A 49-year-old man was arrested after nearly sideswiping an unmarked Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) vehicle and attempting to flee, police say.

Around 7 p.m. on Sunday, a member of the department’s Gang Crime Unit was driving northbound on McCallum Road near Highway 1 when his vehicle was nearly hit by a pickup truck, police say.

“The officer observed additional signs of impaired driving and attempted to conduct a traffic stop,” AbbyPD said in a social media post.

“The driver initially slowed as though he intended to stop but then accelerated and fled from police. Officers observed the truck drive over a concrete boulevard and continue swerving erratically, creating a significant risk to public safety.”

Police say they tracked the vehicle into the area of Huggins Avenue and Laurnell Crescent. An officer says they witnessed the truck lose control and crash into a utility pole.

“The impact caused the pole-mounted transformer to fall onto the hood of the truck and brought several live hydro lines down to the roadway,” AbbyPD said.

“Due to the immediate danger posed by the energized power lines, officers were unable to safely approach the vehicle or arrest the driver until BC Hydro crews arrived and disconnected the power.”

Police say they were then able to arrest the 49-year-old man, who provided breath samples measuring twice the legal limit.

AbbyPD says it is recommending several charges, including impaired driving, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight from police, and mischief.

No injuries were reported as a result of this incident, police say.