Tenants flee after mini-van strikes house, severs gas line
No-one was hurt after a mini-van slammed into a house in Woodstock Monday morning, rupturing a gas line, and forcing residents out of their beds to safety.
"All we heard was a big thud," said tenant Dave Griswold, who lives with his family in one half of the duplex that was struck.
"It shook the house. Everybody had to get out in a hurry. 'Cause we opened the front door and all I could smell was gas. We all just got out of there in a hurry," he explained.
The house after the driver of a mini-van hit it, rupturing a gas line - Monday May 8, 2023 (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)Woodstock Police said a 28 year old driver is facing a charges of:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol and drugs; and
- Failure or refusal to comply with demand
Officers responded to the home on Main Street near Douglas Street around 4:30 Monday morning after a vehicle crashed into the front of a house.
Five people between the two homes managed to get out safely. According to those who live in the home, a mini-van was headed west on Main Street when it crossed over the oncoming lane, drove across a front lawn while clipping a tree, and slammed into the front of the home. The vehicle would end up directly on top of a gas meter, wedged into the wall with the driver side up against the house.
Vehicle that hit a house in Woodstock, rupturing a gas line - Monday May 8, 2023 (Source: Provided) A tenant in the second unit, who didn’t want to be identified, said he watched as the driver climbed out of the vehicle through the passenger window.
"He was staggering around all over the place," said the resident. "I called 911 and told him to sit down outside because he kept asking to come in the house. I said 'no I’m not letting a stranger in my home, but you can sit on the steps'."
Neighbours told CTV News that Enbridge Gas was notified, and it was about two-and-a-half hours later that they were able to shut off the gas.
One hundred eighteen homes in the area would be affected by the shut-off, and homes in the immediate area were evacuated.
The house after the driver of a mini-van hit it, rupturing a gas line - Monday May 8, 2023 (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)Teresa Izzard lives a few doors away and hustled her family out of their home when she heard what had happened.
"I’m like, ‘maybe we should evacuate too,' because I didn’t know if the gas was off or on, and I’m like ‘where should we go'?"
Woodstock Police closed a section of Main Street to traffic.
Neighbour Chris Lomas, said the roadway is already notorious for speeders.
Vehicle that hit a house in Woodstock, rupturing a gas line - Monday May 8, 2023 (Source: Provided) "About two years ago we had somebody speeding down this road and hit another car at the intersection, and it was a fatality," he said. "Speeds need to decrease around here."
By mid-morning most residents were allowed back inside their homes, and the road was re-opened. Dave Griswold, however, was still waiting for the air to clear.
"I’m not going back in," he said. "It just smells like gas in there."
No injuries were reported in the incident.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'The root cause': Canada outlines national action plan to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Michael Cohen testified Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from his ex-boss Donald Trump’s company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen’s credibility.
'Next man up': Canucks coach, teammates bracing for Game 7 without Brock Boeser
Questions about how the team is going to handle the absence of star winger Brock Boeser from a do-or-die game seven dominated pre-game interviews with the Vancouver Canucks coach and players Monday morning.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.