Driver flees as passengers trapped in Victoria crash

CBC
Witnesses told police the driver fled the scene, leaving his four passengers trapped upside down, two of them unconscious.

A 21-year-old man accused of leaving his passengers trapped inside the overturned wreckage of his car is facing charges of impaired driving, according to the Victoria Police Department.

Police say the driver of a Toyota Corolla ignored a stop sign on Friday night and was hit by an oncoming taxi cab in the Fairfield neighbourhood of Victoria.

There were four other people in the car, which ended up on its side.

Witnesses say the driver fled the scene — leaving his passengers trapped upside down — two of them unconscious.

Rescuers needed the jaws of life to get them out.

Two people were treated and released, while two others remain in hospital, one with serious injuries.

The driver — who appears unharmed — was later found near his home in Saanich.

He has been released on a promise to appear, with police recommending charges of impaired driving and leaving the scene of an accident.

During the course of their search for the driver, an innocent youth was injured by a dog from the police K-9 unit, police said.

The case has been referred to the Office of the Police Complaints Commissioner.