Nova Scotia

Car smashes through front of BMO branch in Halifax

A car smashed through the front of a BMO branch in west-end Halifax on Friday evening, leaving extensive damage but apparently causing no injuries.

Incident happened around 5:45 p.m., branch had closed about two hours prior to incident

Eyewitnesses say the car failed to navigate a turn before jumping a curb and crashing into the BMO branch. (Robert Short/CBC)

A car smashed through the front of a BMO branch in west-end Halifax on Friday evening, causing extensive damage but no apparent injuries.

Halifax police say a 25-year-old man is now facing multiple charges under the Motor Vehicle Act including driving with a revoked licence and texting while driving. In a news release, police say they determined the crash to be accidental.

Eyewitnesses say the dark compact car failed to navigate a turn before hopping a curb and crashing through the main entrance of the branch on Mumford Road.

The outlet is usually teeming with customers, but it had closed nearly two hours earlier.

The incident happened around 5:45 p.m., say witnesses.

Halifax Regional Police officers questioned a man who was seen exiting the vehicle. (Brian Daly/CBC)

Video from one onlooker's cellphone showed a man getting out of the driver's side of the car before police, paramedics and firefighters arrived.

After first responders reached the scene, officers could be seen questioning the man, who displayed no signs of injury and was answering their questions.

Police formed a perimeter around the damaged bank branch as more than a dozen passersby looked on.