KOTA KINABALU, July 23 – A runaway drug user got himself into more trouble when he tried to escape the authorities by stealing his colleague’s van but ended up crashing it into a Road Transport Department (RTD) roadblock.

City police chief Asst Comm M. Chandrea said the suspect, a 29-year-old local security guard, had panicked during an inspection at his workplace at the Likas Vocational College yesterday morning when authorities found evidence of syabu on him.

“The suspect jumped into his colleague’s van which was parked nearby and sped away. Police patrol units in the area were notified and spotted the vehicle, which led to a car chase along the Jalan Tuaran bypass.

“During the chase, he drove through a roadblock held by the RTD and damaged a vehicle in the process,” he said.

After 30 minutes and several more kilometres of hot pursuit, the police managed to stop him in Inanam.

Further investigations later showed he tested positive for drugs.

The suspect is being investigated under Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952 for consuming drugs, and Section 42 (1) of the Road Transport Act 1987 for reckless driving.