Kent McHarg is pictured with his dog Layla. She was missing for a number of days after she took off when two shooting suspects slammed into McHarg's vehicle on Nov. 1. (supplied/Kent McHarg)

By Tyler Marr

MAN'S BEST FRIEND

‘I am thankful nobody else got hurt’ says man involved in shooting suspect collision

Nov 4, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Kent McHarg took his dog for a walk Friday afternoon before he headed out to grab his paycheque.

He took a few moments to coax his anxious dog Layla into the truck and drove off.

Around 2 p.m. he was driving east along 13 Ave. in North Battleford when he noticed a vehicle flying toward him out of the corner of his right eye.

Seconds later he was upside down in his truck and his dog bolted down the road.

McHarg was hit by a car driven by a pair of suspects in a shooting earlier on Nov. 1 in Battleford.

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Twenty-three-year-old Kane Nicotine from St. Albert, Alta., and a 17-year-old female from the Poundmaker First Nation, who can’t be named, were arrested after they sped away from police, ran a yield sign and collided with McHarg at the intersection of 109 St. and 13 Ave.

Nicotine is charged with fleeing police, two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and several weapon and firearm charges. Police located a loaded long barrel firearm and several cans of bear spray in the suspect’s vehicle.

McHarg, speaking to battlefordsNOW, said all he was worried about after the collision was his dog, Layla.

His, as he describes her, “spoiled chubby Shepard lab,” was missing until Sunday morning. McHarg has no wife or children and said Layla is his everything.

After a colleague posted on social media how McHarg was involved in the collision and searching for his pet, scores of commenters came to his aid and said they would keep an eye out for the pooch.

“A very nice lady saw her and notified the police and I was able to get her. She is in terrible shape. It just wasn’t a good situation anyway around for anybody,” he said. “I think the cops were a little bit blown away as the first thing I said is ‘Where is my dog?’ but I am just glad I got by dog back.”

McHarg was not seriously injured but remains quite sore, and said Layla is really shaken. Three days after the collision, McHarg said he is still trying to process everything that happened and prepare for dealing with the RCMP and SGI moving forward.

The 15-year North Battleford resident works as a contractor and since his truck is written off, he is not able to work.

“My truck was my living,” he said. “This is the only Monday morning I wish I could have gone to work.”

McHarg was in the vehicle that was slammed into and flipped by two shooting suspects Friday afternoon in North Battleford. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

He and his family are beyond grateful he came out nearly unscathed, more so as his brother is fighting stage four pancreatic cancer.

“If I would have gotten hurt or killed or something, could you imagine what it would have done to my mother and sisters?” he said. “I am thankful to be alive for sure.”

Despite all this, McHarg is glad it happened to him and not someone else.

“That good old Chevy truck took it right in the side,” he said with a laugh. “It could have been an older couple going to Walmart in a small car or a soccer mom or a kid coming from school. It hasn’t been a great situation but I am thankful nobody else got hurt. If there is any good to come out of it I guess that would be it.”

McHarg tipped his hat to officers in the Battlefords and said they have a “heck of a job to do,” admits they are trying their best but doesn’t know what can be done to remedy the rash of crimes in the region.

“It is just unfortunate the way it is around here. I know the police are trying,” he added.

McHarg profusely thanked everyone online who came together to help him search for Layla and is grateful for the community lending its support.

“It has really touched me,” he said.

His message to people after the collision — seatbelts work and always look both ways at intersections.

“You don’t always know what is happening,” he added.

A GoFundMe page has been created for McHarg by his colleague Tom Cunningham. Those wanting to help out can do so here.

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tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr