Manitoba woman charged after theft and pursuit of septic truck

STE. ROSE DU LAC, Man. — It could have been a really big mess, but police say there were no injuries after a Manitoba woman allegedly stole a septic truck and at one point veered into oncoming traffic with officers in pursuit.

RCMP in Ste. Rose du Lac, Man., say they received a report on Monday morning that the truck had been stolen from Ebb and Flow First Nation and was last seen on Provincial Road 278.

An officer en route to the call saw the truck go through a stop sign where the road met Highway 68 and tried to stop it, but the truck kept going down the highway towards Ste. Rose du Lac, driving erratically and veering into the oncoming lane.

Police say officers had emergency equipment activated to alert oncoming traffic and several motorists were forced off the road by the truck, but they say no collisions occurred and nobody was hurt.

Officers deployed a spike belt and the truck ended up in the ditch, and police allege the female driver and lone occupant of the septic truck fled on foot.

She didn't get far, and police say the 29-year-old woman from Dauphin, Man., has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, flight from police and dangerous driving.

She was released from custody.

The septic truck was recovered by officials from Ebb and Flow First Nation.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2024.

The Canadian Press