Stolen truck chase through southern Alberta starts grass fire, leads to 3 arrests

Police say three people face charges after an early-morning chase that spanned more than 100 kilometres in southern Alberta and involved a helicopter, two spike belts and a grass fire.

It all started around 2:30 a.m. Friday when Calgary police alerted RCMP in Okotoks that a stolen Ford F-350was heading south toward the town.

A Calgary police helicopter kept an eye on the truck from the sky while officers from both Okotoks and High River went after it on the ground.

The truck drove over a police spike belt just north of High River, which deflated two of its tires.

Police saidthe truck then turned off Highway 2 and headed toward High River. Two passengers then jumped out, ran and attempted to hide.

With help from the Calgary police helicopter, Mounties found and arrested both of them.

Truck continues on two tires

Meanwhile, the stolen truck continued into the town of High River then headed east on Highway 23 toward Vulcan, still running on two destroyed tires.

Police deployed asecond spike belt south of Vulcan, which blew out the truck's other two tires.

Still, the driver continued southbound, running on bare rims.

Sparks from the rims then started a fire in the ditch along Highway 23, near the village of Champion.

The local volunteer fire department was summoned to put out the flames.

Eventually, the truck came to a stop after the vehicle, itself, caught fire.

Charges pending

The driver, a 35-year-old manfrom Calgary, was arrested and faces charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, possession of stolen property and flight from police.

The two passengers who jumped out of the vehicle near High River a 26-year-old Calgary woman and 25-year-old Calgary man eachface a charge of possession of stolen property over $5,000.

Police have not released the names of the accused as charges have yet to be formally sworn against them.