A quick-thinking eight-year-old boy helped avert a potential nightmare scenario on Thursday in Qualicum Beach.
The boyB次元官网网址檚 father, Aaron Johnson, had stopped in his truck at the town Shell station at 2712 Island Hwy W. He and the youngsterB次元官网网址檚 older brother quickly ran into the store, with the younger boy choosing to stay behind.
Within seconds, a random woman jumped into the vehicle and began driving away with the boy still inside.
Johnson said he had only been in the stationB次元官网网址檚 store for a second, just enough time to pick up some gaming cards for the boys and take them to the cash register. When he exited, he immediately noticed his truck was gone and his youngest son came running up and telling him what had happened.
B次元官网网址淢y son said he was banging on the window and just saying over and over, B次元官网网址榩lease let me out, please let me out.B次元官网网址� And he had been very stern with her,B次元官网网址� said the boyB次元官网网址檚 mother, Dallas Kobylnyk. According to the boyB次元官网网址檚 statement, the woman listened and pulled over along Memorial Avenue. The boy scrambled out and ran back to alert his father.
B次元官网网址淚 had my truck keys on me and itB次元官网网址檚 a keyless truck. I guess because my keys were still within sensor distance of it, it still came on,B次元官网网址� said Johnson.
While on the phone with the police, Johnson said two people arrived and identified themselves as the womanB次元官网网址檚 mother and a friend. They had apparently arranged to meet the woman at the gas station.
Johnson said his own cellphone was left in the vehicle. The woman used it to call her mother, who was still beside him. She asked to speak to Johnson, who calmly and sympathetically coaxed her to return his vehicle, undamaged.
B次元官网网址淚 said thanks for dropping my son off, if you bring my truck back in one piece, IB次元官网网址檒l put my word into the police that IB次元官网网址檇 just like to see you get some help,B次元官网网址� said Johnson.
She did, after having been gone about 45 minutes, driving to Errington and back.
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When she got back to the gas station, the RCMP were waiting.
Sgt. Stephen Rose of the Oceanside RCMP confirmed that police had received a report of a stolen vehicle from a gas station in Qualicum Beach on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m.
Rose confirmed the account, saying the woman was distraught and appeared to be in crisis. The woman was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for an assessment. He said the incident remains under investigation.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to be a lot more cautious. You think you live in a nice seaside community and that these things are big city problems, but it can happen anywhere,B次元官网网址� said Johnson.
Both the boys were kept home Friday.
B次元官网网址淭his could have been extremely disastrous, this is not your normal scenario. By the grace of B次元官网网址榮omethingB次元官网网址� it was OK and my son was fine. IB次元官网网址檓 sad for (the woman). IB次元官网网址檓 sad for my son,B次元官网网址� said Kobylnyk. B次元官网网址淧eople need help, big time, right now and thereB次元官网网址檚 not enough resources.B次元官网网址�
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