Image: AbbyPD

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Motor vehicle incident

Motorist rolls car, tries to elude police by hopping into the Sumas Canal Sunday night: Abbotsford PD

Jul 7, 2025 | 7:02 AM

ABBOTSFORD — A heavy police presence converged on an area between Abbotsford and Chilliwack Sunday evening after police were dispatched for a motor vehicle incident.

According to a statement from Abbotsford PD spokesperson Sgt. Walker, officers responded to the report of a single-vehicle rollover accident at North Parallel Road and No. 3 Road at 6:54 p.m. Sunday night.

Sgt. Walker says the driver exited the vehicle and ran away on foot. Patrol officers established containment in the area, and a police dog and drone were brought to assist the investigation.

Image: AbbyPD spokesperson Sgt. Paul Walker.

Some time later, the driver was located swimming across the Sumas Canal towards the gun range. Once he came to the other side, Sgt. Walker says the man was arrested.

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An impaired driving investigation is currently underway, Sgt. Walker said Sunday night.

“The driver fled the scene on foot, jumped into the Sumas Canal, and attempted to swim away. With the assistance of a Police Dog and Drone Unit, the individual was observed doing the backstroke across the canal and was arrested upon reaching the opposite bank. He is now facing an impaired driving suspension,” AbbyPD said on social media Monday morning.

There were no other occupants in the car.

Theresa Gray reported in the Fraser Valley Road Report Facebook group that there was a fire rescue truck, two ambulances and at least seven police in the area around the time of the incident.