White Rock police are investigating a report of an impaired driver, following a restaurateur害羞草研究所檚 efforts to stop a car from leaving the city害羞草研究所檚 waterfront.
, owner of Moby Dick Fish & Chips on Marine Drive, said the Sept. 30 incident 害羞草研究所� in which he twice put himself in the path of the same vehicle to try to stop the driver from getting on the road 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所渨as scary.害羞草研究所�
But while he害羞草研究所檇 likely approach any future incident somewhat differently, Makogonsky said he still wouldn害羞草研究所檛 hesitate to take steps.
害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 say that I would do this again, in terms of trying to stop the running car,害羞草研究所� he told Peace Arch News last week. 害羞草研究所淵es, I would do the same again.害羞草研究所�
Makogonsky said the incident unfolded after a diner was denied her order for alcohol with her meal, based on signs she was already intoxicated. Those signs included that the woman had taken food from one diner害羞草研究所檚 plate and knocked into another.
He said the woman 害羞草研究所� who he estimates was in her mid-50s 害羞草研究所� and her companion left without finishing their meals, and he followed them out because he was concerned she might get behind the wheel.
害羞草研究所淣ot only did she have those signs of impairment害羞草研究所� she was barely standing on her feet,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲hen she left the restaurant, she walked a few feet then she was leaning on my patio fence.害羞草研究所�
Makogonsky said he first warned that he would call police. When that didn害羞草研究所檛 work, he stood behind her vehicle, hitting its trunk to ensure she knew he was there.
When the vehicle backed toward him, Makogonsky said he laid on the trunk, then jumped away to avoid injury.
He ran in front of the car, but the driver persisted, he said. She 害羞草研究所渄irected her vehicle right into me, so I had to lie down on the front of the vehicle in order to not end up under the wheels.
害羞草研究所淭he car didn害羞草研究所檛 stop and continued to drag me further. I felt that she wasn害羞草研究所檛 going to stop no matter what I did.害羞草研究所�
The driver took off eastbound.
Makogonsky said he called 911 during the ordeal, however officers did not immediately respond. While Makogonsky was initially critical of the delay, White Rock RCMP Staff Sgt. Daryl Creighton explained it was a result of 害羞草研究所渋nformation available to police at the time.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t wasn害羞草研究所檛 until later that police became aware of the citizen害羞草研究所檚 efforts to stop the reported impaired driver,害羞草研究所� Creighton told Peace Arch News by email.
Creighton would not comment further on the delay, but said the 害羞草研究所渁ctions of the driver have been duly noted and the investigation remains active.害羞草研究所�
Creighton said police appreciate the public害羞草研究所檚 assistance in stopping in-progress crime, but he cautioned Good Samaritans 害羞草研究所渢o evaluate their own limitations.害羞草研究所�
Anyone with information that could identify the driver may contact White Rock RCMP at 778-593-3600.
