A 21-year-old Three Hills man has been charged in connection with a motor vehicle collision that caused a gas leak in downtown Sylvan Lake on Saturday.
The man is accused of driving his truck into the Telus building on 50th Avenue and 50th Street, causing an uncontrolled gas leak that resulted in the evacuation of a section of downtown for approximately nine hours.
Cpl. James Allemekinders, of the Sylvan Lake RCMP said the driver and three other occupants fled the scene. A man later reported his truck stolen and then was discovered to have been behind the wheel at the time of the incident.
Allemekinders said the driver lost control, didn’t make the corner and crashed into the building.
One passenger, a 24-year-old Sylvan Lake man, was treated and released from the hospital for a head wound, suffered while not wearing a seatbelt while in the front seat, said Allemekinders.
Thomas James Hanger, 21, has been charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, public mischief, fail to remain at the scene of a collision and driving a motor vehicle with no insurance.
At his bail hearing, he was released on $500 cash recognizance with numerous conditions and is scheduled to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Tuesday.