Editor’s note: RCMP originally said that the shooting incident the truck was associated with was in Three Hills. On Wednesday, RCMP said it actually occurred in Delburne, which is in the Three Hills RCMP detachment area. This story has been updated with the correct information.
Central Alberta RCMP are investigating an alleged collision and armed carjacking near the Red Deer Airport.
Blackfalds RCMP said a man driving a truck collided with a school bus on Township Road 372 and Range Road 281 at 8:12 a.m. on Tuesday.
Jennifer, whose last name Global News has agreed to withhold for her safety, said she was driving by when she saw the crash and pulled over to help. The truck driver initially looked hurt, but when he turned around, something felt off to Jennifer because a bandana covered the lower part of his face.
“He pulled a gun out of his jacket, so that’s why he was holding his arm funny, because he was concealing a weapon,” she said. “He wasn’t actually injured.”
Jennifer said he swore at her, apologized for stealing her SUV and retrieved her phone, purse and lunch bag out of the vehicle before he took off.
The suspect fled with her Mitsubishi Outlander, heading west on Township Road 372.
“It was terrifying,” Jennifer said. “In the movies, they depict it in slow motion and it totally happens that way.”
“Let him take my vehicle because I don’t want to get shot today,” she said of her frame of mind. “And I don’t want him to enter that bus with kids on it with a gun.”
Police said all seven children on the bus were assessed. Two of the students sustained minor injuries and were treated on scene and released.
RCMP are searching for a silver 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander, with the Alberta licence plate BNR6558. Police consider the suspect armed and dangerous, and warn the public not to approach him.
On Tuesday afternoon, police said the truck involved in the collision had been stolen last week from a Fountain Tire in Drumheller, Alta.
Police believe the truck was also associated with a break and enter in Bashaw and an incident of shots fired in Delburne.
Anyone with information about the truck’s whereabouts between Jan. 15 and Tuesday is asked to call Blackfalds RCMP.
The damage to the front end of the truck occurred during the collision on Tuesday and the front end was not damaged before that.
The suspect is described as five-foot-11-inches tall with dark wavy hair. He wore a black skull bandana pulled up covering the lower half of his face, a dark jacket with the hood covering his head and dark cargo pants.
Police are asking anyone who has information about the suspect or the location of the Mitsibushi to contact Blackfalds RCMP at 403-885-3333 or Crime Stoppers.
– With files from Lauren Pullen, Global News and Kirby Bourne, 630 CHED
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