A 31-year-old Aurora man faces multiple charges after a lengthy wrong-way police chase on Highway 401 that ended in a crash in Scarborough on Wednesday night.
Durham Regional Police say they were called to the area of Liverpool Road and Bayly Street at 9:53 p.m., for a report of an impaired driver who had exited Highway 401.
Police said an officer spotted a white cargo van in the parking lot of a nearby Tim Hortons. The van had earlier been reported stolen.
The van sped away from the area and officers gave chase.
The chase began at the Whites Road ramp onto the 401 in Pickering, and the driver continued heading west into eastbound traffic for approximately 10 kilometres into Scarborough.
At one point, the van veered into the Brock Road on ramp, stopped, pulled a U-turn and drove straight at a pursuing police cruiser. It pushed the cruiser aside and continued on westbound in the eastbound collector lanes.
The van exited the highway at Meadowvale Road and struck a guardrail. Police said the driver fled the van on foot but was arrested a short distance away.
The driver was found not to be impaired but the van had been reported stolen from somewhere in York Region, police said.
Parts of the pursuit were captured by Ministry of Transportation cameras positioned on the highway.
A suspect identified as Jesse Teel is facing charges including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property over $5,000, failure to remain, driving without a license and multiple probation violations.
He was held in custody pending a bail hearing.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Const. Ali at 1-888-579-1520, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS).
