Police charged a 22-year-old-man with a number of driving offences after his truck crashed into a wooded area near Arundel Street.
The crash happened just before 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Thunder Bay Police Service officers, Fire and Rescue and Superior North EMS all responded to the call. The truck was more than 20 feet away from the road and came to rest on its side. Firefighters had to dig through the foot thick snow in order for them and paramedics to carry the driver on a stretcher.
Paramedics rushed the man to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre with minor injuries.
Police charged the man with with impaired driving, drive over 80 kilometres per hour and dangerous driving. He has been released with a March court date.
George McQueen was walking along Arundel Street when he heard the crash and the cracking of the trees. He said he went to check on the driver and saw that the truck was smoking. He was able to speak to the driver who told him that he was OK but his back hurt.
“He’s lucky to be alive,” he said.
Hodder Avenue acting Cpt. Rick Kerley said when they arrived there was a number of vehicles that already pulled off to the side of the road.
It became obvious that a vehicle had flown pass the guardrail and flew through the trees, he said.
“The vehicle was overturned so we just commenced extrication,” Kerley said. “The vehicle was on its side so we couldn’t get to him through the top or bottom so we basically took him out through the back window. He was talking to us. Our preoccupation was to get him out safely and into the ambulance.”
Police will investigate the cause of the crash.
