The driver, a Halifax man, has been charged with careless driving in the incident
LANTZ: A 45-year-old Halifax man is facing a charge of careless driving after a harrowing single-vehicle crash that left some residents shaken and others thinking it was luck there weren’t serious injuries.
East Hants District RCMP S/Sgt. Cory Bushell said officers responded to a 911 call on March 13 at approximately 5:20 p.m. to the collision on Hwy 277 in Lantz, near the old rink. Lantz Fire and EHS also responded to the call.
The police investigation has determined that the driver accelerated going into a corner, lost control and sideswiped a power pole, breaking it in two.
“The truck continued another 100 feet, nearly hitting a house before it struck a large tree and came to a final stop,” said S/Sgt. Bushell. “Both the driver and passenger sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene.”
Some residents said on Facebook that the occupants of the truck were “very lucky” to not have been seriously injured or worse.
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Mark Frizzell, the deputy chief with Lantz Fire, said volunteer firefighters arrived at a hectic scene, finding the truck with heavy damage pinned between two trees.
“To all the responders surprise, the occupants were out of the truck showing no signs of injuries,” said Frizzell. “Lantz fire was asked to stay and secure the scene with RCMP until NSP and TIR could arrive.”
That meant closing down Hwy 277 to traffic. With Hyde’s Bridge still closed, it left residents no avenue to get out or home.
“With Hyde’s bridge being unusable, we knew this would put a lot of residents out, but we made the decision along with RCMP with the public safety first in mind,” assured Frizzell on the reason for the road closure.
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S/Sgt Bushell said at the scene, officers detected the odor of liquor on the breath of the driver and demanded he provide a roadside sample of his breath.
“The driver complied and blew a warn, which resulted in being given a seven-day driving suspension,” he said.
As a result of the investigation and evidence at the scene, police charged the man with careless driving.
He is scheduled to appear in court at a later date on the charges.
