Tractor ‘possibly involved’ in protest strikes police vehicle on Highway 1: Surrey RCMP

A tractor travelling on Highway 1 collided with a police cruiser early Saturday afternoon, causing the tractor to roll over, Surrey RCMP tells CityNews.

Mounties note that the tractor was “possibly involved in a protest.” It comes as a convoy of anti-SOGI protesters worked its way from Chilliwack to the PNE in Vancouver.

“At approximately 12:35 p.m., BC Highway Patrol members were dealing with a call for service, when they encountered a person driving a tractor on Highway 1,” Sgt. Duane Honeyman told CityNews.

Police say they attempted to stop the tractor, which resulted in an initial collision when the tractor struck a police vehicle.

“The incident ended when the tractor rolled over as it tried to take the on ramp to Highway 1 west bound.”

A video posted to social media shows the tractor fleeing two RCMP vehicles. It appears police use a PIT maneuver — a tactic where the front end of a vehicle touches the back of a vehicle, causing it to lose control and turn sideways — on the tractor before it flipped. The video also shows the driver of the tractor lying on the roadway after the collision.

One person has been taken into police custody and taken to hospital, but the extent of injuries is unknown.

Police remain on scene in the northbound lanes of 176 Street where it crosses the highway.

As of Sunday morning, the Independent Investigations Office had taken over the investigation due to the injuries sustained by the tractor driver during the incident. The BC Highway Patrol says none of the police officers were seriously injured.

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