Two girls, aged 11 and 12, were arrested after the driver of a stolen pickup truck led Thompson RCMP on a dangerous high-speed pursuit that had to be abandoned.

The truck was stolen when it was left running in a driveway outside a home in the northern Manitoba city shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday, said police.

A short time later, the truck got stuck in a snowbank at Waterloo Avenue and Brandon Crescent, where a driver stopped to help.

After the truck was freed from the snow, the driver sideswiped the Good Samaritan’s vehicle and took off.

RCMP said a passenger in the other vehicle suffered minor injuries in the collision.

Police soon received several calls about an erratic driver.

Officers were notified a truck, which matched the description of the one that fled, was stuck on a shoulder of Highway 6 near Thompson.

After freeing the vehicle, the driver continued to operate the truck erratically while headed toward the city, which is about 750 kilometres north of Winnipeg.

RCMP said the driver refused to pull over when an officer tried to make a traffic stop.

Police allege the truck was driven erratically at a high rate of speed, and almost crashed into other vehicles.

RCMP then decided to stop pursuing the truck due to the dangerous driving and risk to public safety, according to a news release.

Officers soon found the truck stuck in a snow-filled ditch on Station Road.

Two suspects were arrested without incident.

Police said one of the suspects was an 11-year-old girl, who could not be charged because she is under 12.

The other suspect, a 12-year-old girl, is facing five charges, including theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm and fleeing police.

— Staff