Charges laid in dangerous driving incident on Stoney Trail
One man has been charged in relation to a dangerous driving incident that took place on a stretch of eastbound Stoney Tr. yesterday.
At approximately 9:40 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 28, 2019, a man was driving a 2006 Honda Ridgeline when he struck a Canada Post community mailbox at the corner of Hamptons Blvd. and Hamptons Sq. N.W. The driver backed up at a high rate of speed, striking the garage door and frame of a home in the 10,000 block of Hamptons Blvd. N.W. The driver failed to remain at the scene.
A short while later, HAWCS spotted the driver traveling at a high rate of speed on Stoney Tr. eastbound near Shaganappi Tr. N.W. At times the vehicle reached a speed of 180 km/h. The Ridgeline side swiped three vehicles; a 2014 Audio Q5, a 2011 Jeep Wrangler, and a Ford F150.
He then targeted the rear passenger corner of a 2014 Hyundai Tucson, resulting in minor injuries to the three occupants of the Tucson, which required them to be transported to hospital.
Next, he struck the front driver side of a 2017 Honda CRV, causing it to be driven off the road.
He targeted another truck causing it to travel into the ditch. The make and model of this truck is unknown as the driver is yet to report the incident.
Shortly after 10 p.m., the Ridgeline approached Stoney Tr. and Harvest Hills Blvd., targeting a significantly larger vehicle, striking the driver portion of a tractor trailer. This incident is also still to be reported to police.
Several marked police vehicles were in place to intercept the Ridgeline at Stoney Tr. and Harvest Hills Blvd. After making multiple contacts with CPS vehicles, the Ridgeline came to a stop and the driver was taken out of the vehicle and transported to hospital after exhibiting erratic behaviour.
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 charges are pending following toxicology results.
Initial estimates of the damage caused to citizen vehicles is pegged at $97,000. Damage to the home and Canada Post mailbox is estimated to be $55,000.
“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 Inspector 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 would like anyone who may have witnessed these incidents as well as any of the drivers of the targeted vehicles who have yet to report the incident, to contact police at 403-266-1234 or Crime Stoppers anonymously using any of the following methods:
TALK: 1-800-222-8477
APP: "P3 Tips" app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store