Sex trade worker jumps from white van to escape assault

Vancouver police are searching for a suspect after a violent assault ona sex-trade worker in East Vancouver Monday night.

Around 8p.m. PT, a man picked up the 42-year-old woman in the Downtown Eastside. He then drove her to a secluded area where she was allegedly beaten and tied up.

Police say they received several 911 calls half an hour later describing a woman being dragged by a van on ClarkDrive near 13th Avenue.

"The woman had managed to partially free herself and, fearing for her life, jumped from the moving van," Const. Brian Montague said.

The suspect is described by police as a white,balding manwith a tanned complexion and amoustache or goatee. It's possible he may have an Australian accent. He was driving a white panel van with roof racks.

"We want to make sure he doesn't have the opportunity to do this again," Montague said.

"I can't imagine how terrified this woman must have felt, being beaten, tied up, anddriven somewhere that she didn't know whatwas going tohappen to her."

Thevictim is in hospital with a head injury andmultiple abrasions.

Attack hits 'close to home'

On Tuesday, news of the brutal assault reminded some women aboutserial murderer Robert Pickton, who preyed on sex trade workers in the Downtown Eastside.

"My cousin was found on Pickton's farm, so I'm really upset right now. It's really hit me close to home," said Lorelei Williams, a women's youth outreach worker at the Aboriginal Front Door Society.

Mona Woodward, executive director of the society, offered safety tips for the area's sex trade workers.

"Don't work alone, work in pairs, jot down license plate numbers, be hyper alert of your surroundings."she told CBC News. "This is a person that's clearly predatory in nature and needs to be stopped."