By Ian Holmes

‘She could have killed somebody:’ alleged drunk driver crashes on Nanaimo lawn

Oct 15, 2018 | 6:03 PM

NANAIMO — A speeding van with an alleged drunk driver behind the wheel terrorized a south Nanaimo neighbourhood before it crashed onto the front yard of a Robins St. property.

The van barreled over a retaining wall and landed on its roof Saturday at about 7:45 a.m., resulting in the arrest of the driver who was hit with a 90 day driving ban, according to RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien.

“There were multiple reports of this vehicle going up and down roads at excessive speeds and the probability of it striking a person, house or car were extreme,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

O’Brien said the driver and lone occupant of the van appeared to be hiding in the vehicle when she was arrested. A crane later towed the van away.

Eyewitness Darryl Downey woke up Saturday morning to see the crash from his bedroom window. He said the driver easily could have killed somebody.

provincial legislation

'Being pushed down this path:' Nanaimo council re-zoning thousands of properties for higher density

13h ago

notable change

Federal government grants B.C. request to ban public drug use

15h ago

whale watching

Orca pod spotted in vicinity of orphan B.C. killer whale, but no evidence of family

16h ago

“Most of the houses on Gillespie St. have small children and luckily it was a Saturday and not a weekday where their probably would have been lots of children out on the streets at that time.”

Downey said several Gillespie St. residents reported the van sped excessively by their homes several times prior to the crash on adjoining Robins St.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes