New details have emerged about a wild series of apparently deliberate car crashes, which led to multiple charges, including one of attempted murder against a young man in Nova Scotia.
Those who know Daniel Keays, the person accused of being behind the wheel, say he was well known in golf circles at one time and was a promising young golfer from the Halifax area.
Keays is charged with attempted murder and dangerous driving, failure to stop at the scene of an accident, and assault causing bodily harm.
The 21-year-old is accused of driving a van into an SUV, followed by two motorcycles, on Saturday afternoon in South Harbour, two hours north of Sydney.
“It was reported to us that there were at least four collisions that occurred within a four-kilometre stretch and a five-minute time span,” said Const. Tammy Lobb of the Nova Scotia RCMP.
Police say four people were thrown from motorcycles and seven people were injured in total — including a five-year-old boy. Police say the injuries were not life-threatening.
Eyewitnesses say one of the motorcycles was dragged about a kilometre before Keays's van crashed through a guardrail.
Keays is also charged with refusing a drug test.
Court documents show Keays is also charged with escaping custody and assaulting two police officers. RCMP say the incident happened the next day, when Keays was being transported to holding cells in Port Hawksbury. RCMP allege he pulled away from police and tried to run.
The Bedford man grew up playing golf in the Halifax area. Those who know him and his family say they are completely shocked to hear of the charges.
Police are still working to determine what caused the incident.
“At this point I don't have any specific information regarding speeds the collisions occurred at, but those would be factors examined in the investigation,” said Lobb.
The four vehicles involved in the collision are being held by police, who are waiting for forensic officers to gather evidence form the vehicle. Police say this involves trying to match paint from the SUV and motorcycle to the suspect’s vehicle.
Keays will remain in custody at least until his next court appearance on Wednesday.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kelland Sundahl.
