UPDATED: 39 year old male arrested following transport truck pursuit on the Trans Canada Highway in Central Newfoundland

After a lengthy police pursuit that occurred on the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) on Saturday, October 5, 2024, 39-year-old William Matthew Morris of Bishop’s Falls was arrested by RCMP NL.

Shortly before 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Gander RCMP received a report of a stolen transport truck being operated by a suspected impaired driver that was last seen heading east on the TCH towards Lewisporte. RCMP officers from Gander and Traffic Services Central immediately responded.

The transport truck, which was without a trailer, was located by RCMP Traffic Services in Glenwood and failed to stop for police, continuing eastbound on the TCH. A number of additional RCMP resources responded to the call for service with multiple deployments of a spike belt. The tires of the truck were successfully flattened, however the driver continued to operate the truck in a dangerous manner, refusing to stop for police.

Multiple police vehicles, with emergency lights and sirens activated, continued to follow the truck. Police vehicles were positioned in front of and behind the transport truck to alert oncoming motorists. Social media posts were issued to alert motorists of the situation.

Shortly before 6:30 p.m., the truck came to a stop in Terra Nova National Park with multiple RCMP vehicles at the scene. William Morris was removed from the vehicle and was arrested. Open alcohol was recovered from inside the truck and signs of alcohol impairment were observed. Morris failed to provide a roadside breath sample.

He appears in court today and is charged with the following criminal offences:

Theft of motor vehicle

Flight from police

Dangerous operation – two counts

Failure to comply with a breath demand

Failure to comply with a condition of release order

Previous Story: At approximately 5:50 p.m. on Saturday, October 5th, officers with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police attempted to stop a transport truck on the Trans Canada Highway near Grand Falls-Windsor. The driver did not comply and fled aggressively, continuing eastbound towards Gambo. After several minutes, the truck headed towards Glovertown, where Glovertown RCMP deployed a spike belt on the highway. The transport truck collided with the spike belt but continued fleeing east until it reached Terra Nova National Park, where it finally came to a stop, and officers placed a male into custody.

RCMP Public Advisory Posts

📢🚨RCMP NL is attempting to stop a transport truck on the TCH east of Square Pond. The tractor trailer is traveling eastbound towards Gambo. Motorists are asked to be vigilant if coming in contact with the tractor trailer and to avoid travel in the area if possible.

Update #1: As of 6:15 p.m., the truck is still heading eastbound in Terra Nova Park. It is a white tractor trailer without a trailer in tow.

Update #2: As of 6:22 p.m., police have successfully stopped the transport truck, and a man has been arrested.

[Video taken from a truck driver the on Trans Canada Highway as police arrest the individual]

[Video taken by a witness of the incident near Glovertown]