Van thief crashes into cars, bicyclist

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD) - Police continue to search for a man accused of stealing a van and crashing into several vehicles and a bicyclist on his getaway route.

A resident in the 1200 block of March Street called the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety at 7:56 p.m. Thursday to report her van was just stolen.

The caller told officers she had left the engine on her van parked in the driveway while visiting friends. The caller heard the sound of squealing tires and saw her van speeding away.
 
The suspect drove the van eastbound on Lay Boulevard at a high rate of speed causing a three-block trail of destruction after colliding with three parked vehicles, multiple fences and a bicyclist, according to a news release.

The 21-year-old bicyclist was transported to Bronson Methodist Hospital for treatment to non-life threatening injuries.

The van was no longer drivable and the suspect ran from the scene, police said.

A Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety K-9 unit responded but could not track down the suspect whose description is unknown.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 269.337.8994 or Silent Observer at 269.343.2100.