A close call for an RCMP officer in Ashcroft over the weekend, as police say he narrowly avoided being run down by a woman by hopping on the hood of his own cruiser.

Mounties say the officer tried to stop the woman on Sunday evening after identifying her vehicle – a silver Honda Civic hatchback – as one allegedly associated with fuel thefts in the southern Interior.

They allege she rammed into his cruiser when he tried to block her way, and she accelerated toward him after he exited the vehicle.

“The officer ordered the female suspect out of her vehicle.” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesperson for the RCMP Southeast District. “The woman ignored the officer’s commands and continued to accelerate in an attempt to push through the blockade.”

“She eventually turned off the vehicles ignition, but when the officer went to reposition, she re-started her engine, and accelerated towards the police officer and crashed through the blockade.”

O’Donaghey noted the officer wasn’t seriously injured as he was able to jump on to the hood of his cruiser.

In a release, he says Diane Carol Priester, 44, from 100 Mile House faces multiple charges, including dangerous driving, flight from police and assaulting a police officer with a weapon. She was taken into custody in Clinton after police used a spike belt.

“Priester was held in police custody overnight. and was wanted on multiple outstanding warrants for her arrest for crimes allegedly committed in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and 100 Mile House,” noted O’Donaghey.

She has a court appearance in Kamloops on Thursday.