Heathen candidate Robert Rudachyk prevents local hit-and-run

[Cara Schulz is one of our talented weekly staff writers. She brings you the news and issues that most affect the Pagan and Heathen worlds. If you like her work and that of our other weekly reporters, help us by donating to our fall fund drive. Bringing you news and stories, like the one below, is what we love to do. It is your continued support that makes it possible for us to continue. Support independent journalism! Donate today.Thank you very much.]

SASKATOON, Canada – It was just another night door knocking and campaigning for Robert Rudachyk – no different from the 49 previous nights. After he finished, he headed home and, as he was about to enter his front door, he witnessed an unfamiliar car occupied by two men slam into his neighbor’s car and then try to drive off. Rudachyk didn’t hesitate. He chased the car down on foot as it tried to get away.

Rudachyk, a Heathen living in Saskatoon-Riverdale, Canada, has been campaigning on behalf of the Liberal Party candidates for the upcoming Canadian federal elections scheduled for October. He’s also running to be a Member of the Legislative Assembly himself in April’s regional elections.

Robert Rudachyk

On the evening of September 23, Rudachyk saw the unfamiliar car hit his neighbor’s car while attempting a three point turn. When the two men sped off into the dark, Rudachyk ran after them. “It was obvious they were trying to get on the main road about a block and a half away. I ran after them hoping I could catch them at the intersection. Luckily, there were pedestrians crossing in front of them and heavy traffic,” said Rudachyk. The vehicle was forced to stop long enough for him to catch up.

His cell phone dead, Rudachyk decided to bluff and yelled at the two men in the car that he had snapped a photo of their plate number. The car turned into a 7-11 parking lot, and that’s when Rudachyk was able to confront them. He told them if they didn’t come back to the scene of the hit-and-run, he would call the police. He also told them that he would physically restrain them from leaving the area. “They agreed to come back and I stayed close until [my neighbor] came out,” said Rudachyk.

The young men and his neighbor exchanged insurance information and, for Rudachyk at least, the matter was over.

Rudachyk said that this isn’t the first time there’s been a hit-and-run in the neighborhood. He said, “It has happened to me and all my neighbours at one time or another, and it has cost us all a lot of money from insurance deductibles.”

That history, combined with the ethics of his religion, Heathenry, spurred him to run after the car. He believes everyone is accountable for their own actions and, “To run from your actions and hide from it is a huge dishonour. It is also dishonourable to stand by and do nothing if you can help.” He added that he’s happy to have been in the right place and time to stop someone from getting away with another hit-and-run.  

As for Rudachyk’s relationship with his neighbors, they have engaged in a bit of humor over the entire situation. “It just happened that the owner of the car is a supporter of the Conservative party and I am a Liberal. It allowed for a little political humour afterwards when his wife was expressing amazement that I was able to run them down. I smiled and said, ‘After almost 50 days of running hard to get our Liberal candidate elected in the riding, it was a piece of cake.’”

*   *   *

Support The Wild Hunt. Donate Today!

To join a conversation on this post:

Visit our The Wild Hunt subreddit! Point your favorite browser to https://www.reddit.com/r/The_Wild_Hunt_News/, then click “JOIN”. Make sure to click the bell, too, to be notified of new articles posted to our subreddit.