Stolen vehicle flees police and crashes into building

Charges are pending against one man after a stolen vehicle drove through the city at high rates of speed and into oncoming traffic for more than two hours last night before losing control and colliding with a building.

At approximately 12:30 a.m., on Tuesday, July 5, 2016, police were called to the area of 52 Street and 26 Avenue N.E. for reports that a man was assaulting a woman in a parking lot. Upon police arrival, the man and woman got into a white Jeep Cherokee, which had previously been reported stolen, and drove northbound in the southbound lanes of 52 Street, nearly hitting the marked police vehicles that were responding to the incident.

After leaving the parking lot, the driver deliberately drove into oncoming traffic for a number of hours, going at speeds estimated between 140 to 180 km/h and running red lights. A number of other drivers had to take evasive action to avoid being hit.

HAWC was called to assist in tracking the vehicle throughout the city.

Just before 2 a.m., the driver of the stolen vehicle pulled into the parking lot of a downtown casino and attempted to hijack another vehicle. The attempt failed and the suspect got back in the Jeep. The vehicle drove down southbound on Macleod Trail at speeds estimated at 140 km/h on rims after the tires had blown.

The suspect lost control of the vehicle in the 5500 block of Macleod Trail where the vehicle went through a tree and lodged into the side of a business. Once stopped, the male driver fled on foot, while a female passenger remained pinned in the vehicle.

The Canine Unit was called to assist and tracked the suspect a short distance away where he was arrested without further incident. The female passenger was extricated from the vehicle by the Calgary Fire Department and transported to hospital in serious but stable condition.

The investigation into the incident continues. Charges are pending against the male driver. His name will be released once charges have been formally laid. It is not yet known if charges will be laid against the female passenger.