A 21-year-old Bedford, N.S. man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly caused four serious collisions within five minutes in Cape Breton.

Ingonish RCMP arrested Daniel Keays after responding to reports of four separate motor vehicle collisions, all involving the same vehicle, around 3 p.m. Saturday on White Point Road in South Harbour, N.S.

RCMP allege Keays intentionally drove his Honda van into three different vehicles – one SUV and two motorcycles – and narrowly missed a fourth vehicle before crashing into a guard rail.

Police say Keays first collided with an SUV driven by a 49-year-old woman, which also had a 5-year-old boy as a passenger. Afterwards, police say Keays fled the scene and collided with a motorcycle carrying two riders, who were both ejected on impact.

Police say Keays tried to flee the scene again and proceeded to hit another motorcycle, once again throwing off its two passengers. He allegedly dragged the motorcycle for about a kilometer before driving through an intersection, narrowly missing another vehicle.

Police say his vehicle finally came to a stop after he crashed through a guard rail.

RCMP say the collisions occurred within five minutes of each other, and within a four-kilometre stretch of roadway.

The victims sustained various injuries, but none were life-threatening. They were all unknown to Keays.

Keays is also accused of assaulting two bystanders who tried to help after the crash, and of assaulting police officers while in custody.

He is facing the following charges:

  • Attempt to commit murder
  • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm
  • Failure to stop at the scene of an accident
  • Assault causing bodily harm
  • Assault of a peace officer causing bodily harm
  • Refusal of drug recognition expert demand

Keays is scheduled to appear in sydney provincial court on Monday.