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Dine-and-dashers detained in Tofino

Two men were arrested after a botched dine and dash attempt at Tofino’s Schooner Restaurant around 9 p.m. on April 26.

Restaurant staff stopped one of the men before he was able to leave the building and police quickly located the other man hiding in the backseat of a nearby vehicle, according to Sgt. Blaine Mumford of the Tofino RCMP.

Both men were from out of town and had attempted to run out on a roughly $100 dinner bill. They wound up spending the night in jail and were released the following morning with future court dates.

Mumford said an investigation is ongoing but police do not believe the two men simply forgot to pay.

“We’re still investigating to determine if there’s enough information to lay a charge but it very clearly, at this point, seems to be intentional; they ate their meals and then attempted to leave without paying,” Mumford said.

 

Multi-vehicle collision on Pac Rim Hwy

The Pacific Rim Highway hosted a multi-vehicle collision last week.

Police responded to the five-vehicle pile-up near Radar Hill around 6 p.m. on April 30, according to Sgt. Mumford who said no significant injuries were reported.

A cause for the pile-up was not known at press time but Mumford said an investigation is ongoing and alcohol is not believed to have been a factor.

“We caution people to be careful as it gets busier and the construction is ongoing in the (Pacific Rim National) Park,” he said.

 

Bicyclist safety on police radar

Tofino police are planning an educational campaign to bring drivers up to speed on sharing the road with bicyclists.

Sgt. Mumford said police have been receiving reports of drivers passing cyclists unsafely on the Pacific Rim Highway.

He suggested commuting cyclists can travel up to 35 km an hour and must use the highway as they would be a hazard to the dog walkers, stroller-pushing parents and young children using Tofino’s Multi-Use Path (MUP).

“They’re using the highway, correctly, but they’re facing issues of people passing either inappropriately or passing when it’s not safe, and then getting some people who are yelling at them to get on the (MUP) and stay off the road,” Mumford said.

 â€œThey need to be treated with the same safety considerations as a slow moving vehicle; you have to pass only when it’s safe...It’s not safe for them to cycle on the (MUP) so they do need to use the road and, as car drivers, we just need to understand that (and) have a little patience.”

 

Andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca



Andrew Bailey

About the Author: Andrew Bailey

I arrived at the Westerly News as a reporter and photographer in January 2012.
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