Charges were laid after a truck hit a mailbox and a house in a northwest Calgary neighbourhood and multiple vehicles on the Stoney Trail freeway Saturday night, police said.
Around 9:40 p.m., a 2006 Honda Ridgeline truck rammed into a Canada Post community mailbox at the corner of Hamptons Boulevard and Hamptons Square N.W., police said.
The driver allegedly backed up at a high rate of speed, striking the garage door and frame of a home in the 10000 block of Hamptons Boulevard N.W., causing “significant but non-structural damage” to the home, police said.
The truck drove away from the scene, officers said.
The truck was then spotted by the HAWCS helicopter speeding east on Stoney Trail near Shaganappi Trail N.W., where police said at times it reached speeds of 180 km/h. Officers were initially called following reports of a vehicle speeding with no lights on.
According to the Calgary Police Service, a series of high-speed collisions happened on a six-kilometre stretch of Stoney Trail between Shaganappi Trail N.W. and Harvest Hills Boulevard N.
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Police said the Ridgeline first side-swiped three vehicles: a 2014 Audio Q5, a 2011 Jeep Wrangler and a Ford F-150.
He then allegedly targeted the rear passenger side of a 2014 Hyundai Tucson, resulting in minor injuries to the three people inside, which police said required them to be taken to hospital.
Next, the truck hit the front driver side of a 2017 Honda CR-V, causing it to be driven off the road.
He targeted another truck causing it to travel into the ditch, officers said. As of Sunday night, police said the make and model of that truck were unknown as the driver had yet to report the incident.
Shortly after 10 p.m., the Ridgeline approached Stoney Trail and Harvest Hills Boulevard, where police said it hit the driver portion of a tractor-trailer. That incident also has yet to be reported to police, although it was witnessed by crews in the helicopter.
Several marked police vehicles were in place to intercept the truck at Stoney Trail and Harvest Hills Boulevard.
After making multiple contacts with police vehicles, the Ridgeline came to a stop and the driver was taken out of the vehicle after exhibiting “erratic behaviour,” police said.
The man was taken to Foothills Medical Centre for precautionary measures, then to arrest processing.
Guolaing Situ, 46, is charged with seven counts of failing to stop at the scene of an accident, seven counts of assault with a weapon and one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle. Impaired driving charges are pending following toxicology results, police said.
It is estimated the rampage caused $97,000 in damage to citizen vehicles, while damage to the home and Canada Post mailbox is estimated to be $55,000.
“This event posed a significant risk to the public as the driver appeared to be deliberately contacting every vehicle he passed, forcing them off the road,” Calgary police acting duty inspector Sean Gregson said.
“We are very fortunate that CPS members safely resolved the incident, and the actions of the driver did not lead to severe injuries or even worse: loss of life. With the holiday season continuing, we remind everyone that drinking and driving is never the right choice to be making.”
Multiple eastbound lanes on Stoney Trail were closed for safety purposes as police investigated.
Anyone who may have witnessed the rampage or any of the drivers who have yet to report the collisions are asked to call police at 403-266-1234 or to contact Crime Stoppers.
– With files from Karen Bartko, Global News
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