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Man accused of running over wife with car

A three-year-old child was strapped into the car seat during the incident, which led to a police pursuit.

A 31-year-old Langley man faces numerous charges after allegedly running over his wife with a car while his three-year-old child was strapped into the car seat.

The toddler was located safe in the back seat of his car in Vancouver, following a police pursuit that started in Langley on May 15.

William Marten is now charged with assault with a weapon (the vehicle), failing to stop during an accident involving bodily harm, flight from police and dangerous driving.

Police were called about 2 p.m. May 15, after a man reportedly had driven off with a toddler in the back seat after hitting a woman, believed to be his wife, in a neighbourhood near 200 Street and 64 Avenue.

The mother’s injuries were said to be non-life threatening.

Police vehicles and a helicopter chased the fleeing vehicle into Vancouver.

Vancouver police said the driver rammed several police cruisers before he was arrested with the aid of a police dog team.

The suspect was transported to hospital with dog bites.

The child was found unharmed and strapped into her car seat.

Marten made a brief court appearance on Tuesday, June 2, but was remanded in custody until his next court appearance June 16.

He was given 12 months probation for a theft in 2013.  In 2008, he pleaded guilty of uttering forged documents in Calgary. He received 30 days in jail.

He was sentenced to a an Aboriginal Sentencing Circle for uttering threats to burn or destroy and breaching those terms in 2012 in North Vancouver.

— With files from reporter Dan Ferguson



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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