Alain Parent was in the middle of his morning milk delivery, gathering an order in the back of his ten-wheeler truck, when it lurched forward to begin a terrifying 30-minute ride through central Ottawa last Friday.

"I couldn't believe it," he told CBC News. "The ride was really intense. It was really bumpy. He went through a park at one point. He went down the stairs. It was a pretty rough ride."

He pulled out his cellphone, which he usually leaves in the cab of the truck, and dialed 911 to reach a dispatcher who was in equal disbelief.

"I said, 'I have a stolen truck. I am in the stolen truck. I need some help because I don't know where I am,'" he recalled. "She couldn't believe it. She didn't understand. I had to repeat it four or five times.

As the Sealtest milk truck travelled from New Edinburgh to Lowertown, Parent waded through spilled chocolate milk and creamers to figure out where he was so that the dispatcher could send help.

"The milk was flying all over the place. Crates of milk all over the place," he said. "I had to literally swim through the cases to get to the side door that closes and opens to describe what I could see."

Man arrested, police still tallying damage

A 32-year-old man was arrested after police boxed in the milk truck near Cathcart and Cumberland streets in Lowertown.

"I was really glad to hear the sirens," Parent said. "I thought it was never going to end."

The 32-year-old man was initially charged with two counts of robbery, one count of theft and one count of breach of probation but new charges are expected on Wednesday.

I thought it was never going to end. - Alain Parent

Police cruisers were damaged, parked and moving vehicles were side-swiped, and street signs lay crushed by the stolen milk truck.

Witnesses described seeing the truck zigzag dangerously through traffic, even travelling north in the southbound lanes of King Edward Avenue at one point.

Investigators are still tallying the damage from the wild chase.

Meanwhile, Parent said he will keep some specific things in mind when delivering milk.

"I'll never forget. From now on, my keys will always be in my pocket and the truck will be locked from now on. That's for sure," he said.