Man faces charges after truck smashes into home

Calgary police say one person is in custody after a truck smashed into a northeast home late Thursday night, tearing apart a living room.

Const. Chad Verkerk said police were called to the 5800 block of 4th Avenue N.E. around 10:30 p.m. where they found the truck embedded in the house.

“The driver wasn’t there . . . Units circulated the area and were able to catch the driver and were able to place him into custody,” he said, adding the driver was uninjured.

The truck, which Verkerk said was speeding westbound down the road, hit the curb before the crash.

“From what we got on scene, it looks like he was travelling at quite a high rate of speed, struck a city concrete curb breaking that curb,” before hitting the home, said Verkerk.

A man is facing charges of criminal hit and run and possession of an illicit cannabis substance, with further charges pending.

Dave Johnson, who lives next door, said: “My son actually grabbed (a block), smashed the window of the truck, and buddy is just sitting in there having a smoke and everything is on fire.

“The guy bailed out of the driver’s window, face planted on the ground and stood up. I said, ‘Hey stay there, are you OK?’ Then ... he was gone.”

The six occupants of the house escaped injury.

The fire department’s heavy rescue team was called in to assist.