A 20-year-old man has been arrested in relation to a hit-and-run involving a Burnaby school bus with children on board Thursday.
Police were called to Montecito Elementary on Duthie Avenue at about 3:40 p.m. for reports of a hit-and-run in front of the school, according to a Burnaby RCMP news release.
A silver coloured sedan had reportedly hit the side of a moving school bus with students on board, the release said.
Neither the bus driver nor any of the children were injured, according to police.
While the bus was driving in the area of Montecito Elementary, it actually belongs to Burnaby's St. Helen's Catholic school, according to Burnaby RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Brett Cunningham.
Officers located a possible suspect vehicle a short time later near the Burnaby Mountain Golf Course.
The driver, a 20-year-old Burnaby man, is believed to have been impaired by drugs, according to police, and a search of his vehicle revealed a large quantity of cash, illicit drugs and several weapons.
Burnaby RCMP will be recommending impaired-driving, drug-trafficking and weapons-possession charges, according to the release.
“Our primary concern is the safety of the children and the public,” Cunningham said in the release. “Our youth section officers are continuing to investigate the reason for the suspect to have been outside the school and will remain in close contact with school administrators. We will not tolerate this dangerous behaviour in our communities, especially when children are put at risk.”
Anyone with information about the incident or suspect is asked to call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999.
To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or solvecrime.ca.
