Calgary police said Friday have laid charges after the driver of a U-Haul van was taken into custody on Thursday after officers pursued it through the city as it crashed into numerous other vehicles and drove at high rates of speed.
Police were first called to the area of 52 Street and Peigan Trail Southeast around 4:30 a.m. Thursday for reports of a collision with a cube van, but said the cube van left the scene.
Police then received multiple calls from people who reported seeing the van running red lights and driving into oncoming traffic.
According to a Thursday news release from the Calgary Police Service (CPS), officers attempted to stop the vehicle but the driver didn’t pull over.
The driver was followed on the northeast portion of McKnight Boulevard just before 6 a.m. but evaded officers, the CPS said.
However, thanks to tips from the public, police were able to locate the vehicle again around 6:30 a.m., parked in the 3900 block of Centre A Street Northeast.
It was at that location that police said one man was taken into custody without incident.
Police said it’s not believed the driver was intentionally striking vehicles.
“There is nothing to suggest that the driver was intentionally trying to harm anyone.”
In addition, investigators said drugs are believed to have been a factor in the man’s erratic driving.
“The driver is believed to have been under the influence of drugs,” Staff Sgt. Mark England said.
Police said Friday the possibility of drugs being involved is still under investigation.
“Five police vehicles were damaged when officers tried to stop the cube van. The officers were fortunate and were not seriously injured, but it’s always very serious when a driver runs into police vehicles instead of stopping.
“There were also at least five citizen vehicles hit, although that number is expected to grow, as more vehicles are found and identified.”
Morgan Wilson witnessed a part of the police chase, seeing the U-Haul vehicle and a police vehicle right in front of it.
“It could easily have been somebody walking down the street and not know and the guy flying through the alley and hitting somebody and killing them, so luckily it’s only property damage of cars,” Wilson said.
Police said they’re working to determine exactly how many vehicles were hit by the cube van between 4:30 a.m. and 6:30 a.m.
On Friday morning, Calgary police charged 39-year-old Daryl Lee Noble with dangerous operation of a vehicle, failing to stop at the scene of an accident, flight from a police officer, driving an uninsured vehicle, driving with a suspended license, theft of a vehicle and three counts of breaching a court order.
Police said the investigation continues and ask anyone with information about the incident who hasn’t already spoken with police to call the CPS non-emergency number at 403-266-1234 or to contact Crime Stoppers anonymously.
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