Man charged after driver rams multiple vehicles on Stoney Trail
Calgary police believe 46-year-old man 'exhibiting erratic behaviour' was impaired
A man has been charged with seven counts of assault with a weapon after multiple vehicles were sideswiped, rammed or driven off the road by a suspected impaired driver on Stoney Trail on the weekend.
Police first became involved after a man driving a 2006 Honda Ridgeline struck a Canada Post community mailbox at the corner of Hamptons Boulevard and Hamptons Square northwest at about 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, police said in a release.
The Honda then backed up at high speed, hit the garage door and frame of a home and fled the area.
The police HAWCS helicopter then spotted the driver speeding on eastbound Stoney Trail near Shaganappi Trail, reaching 180 km/h.
The Honda driver sideswiped three vehicles before ramming the rear passenger corner of a fourth, resulting in minor injuries to the three occupants, who were later taken to hospital.
The driver then struck two more vehicles, forcing them off the road, and collided with the driver compartment of a tractor trailer.
Police had several marked vehicles in place to intercept the Honda at Stoney Trail and Harvest Hills Boulevard.
After hitting several of the police vehicles, the Honda stopped and the driver was removed from the vehicle. He was taken hospital because he was behaving erratically, police said.
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 suspected
Impaired driving charges are pending the results of toxicology tests.
It's estimated there was $97,000 worth of damage to vehicles and another $55,000 to the home and the Canada Post property.
"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," said Acting Duty Insp. Sean Gregson.
"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."
Investigators are asking anyone who might have witnessed these incidents — and any of the drivers of the targeted vehicles who haven't yet done so — to contact police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers.