'Lucky to walk away': Alleged impaired driver crashes into Saanich hydro pole
Saanich police say an alleged drunk driver is lucky to have escaped serious injury after they crashed into a hydro pole on Sunday afternoon.
Police were called to the collision around 4:20 p.m. Sunday in the 1000-block of Burnside Road West.
When officers arrived, the driver was found trapped in their vehicle with the utility pole collapsed overtop of the car.
First responders, including police and the Saanich Fire Department, took nearly two hours to safely remove the driver, since the utility pole was still attached to active power lines, creating an "extremely hazardous situation."
Once the driver was freed, police say they failed a roadside breath test. The driver was handed a 90-day driving ban and had their vehicle impounded, according to Saanich police.
"In looking at the photos from the scene it is quite obvious to see that the driver was lucky to walk away without serious injuries," said Saanich police Const. Markus Anastasiades in a release Monday.
"Not only did the pole land on the windshield of the truck, but several of the lines attached to the pole were energized with thousands of volts of electricity," he said. "A clear message on the inherent dangers and risks of operating a motor vehicle while impaired."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.