Canadian Couple Attacked by Gun-Toting Bandit
CBC News

A relaxing holiday in Costa Rica turned into a terrifying adventure for a Saskatchewan couple who ran into a gang of gun-toting bandits on the highway.

Duane Petersen and Melinda Frischholz of Pilot Butte, east of Regina, were on a three-week vacation in the tropical country last month when they had a brush with death that was straight out of a Hollywood movie.

While on a drive from San Jose to a coastal community, they found themselves behind another car on a mountainous road. They heard a loud noise.

"It sounded like some backfiring," Petersen said.

The car in front, slowed, stopped and backed up, forcing them to back up as well.

Then several masked men leaned out of the other car and began firing at them with handguns.

Petersen said although he and Frischholz were in a state of total disbelief, he was able to drive around the other car and speed away in his four-wheel drive vehicle.

What then followed was a 25-kilometre, high-speed ride along the narrow mountain road with the gunmen in hot pursuit.

At one point the gunmen's car pulled up alongside the Saskatchewan couple's and the men leaned out of the vehicle with guns, shooting at their tires.

Petersen said he could see the flames coming out of the barrels of the guns and he could smell the smoke.

"I couldn't believe how persistent they were," he said. "They just never let up. They meant business."

To buy time, Petersen said, he did a "Rockford" – he hit the brakes, spun his vehicle around 180 degrees and drove the other way along the highway.

"You acquire certain driving skills growing up in Saskatchewan," Petersen said.

With the bandits on their tail again, the couple debated what they would do next.

Petersen thought they should go to the airport. Frischholz convinced him to take a turnoff that took them to some small towns.

It turned out that was the right decision. They drove into a town and turned into the parking lot of a crowded restaurant.

The bandits had broken off the chase.

They called the police and their adventure was over.

Back in Saskatchewan, Petersen said he usually likes to take a holiday somewhere warm once a year, but he's not thinking of that for now.

"Moose Jaw's looking good right now," he said.