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Dangerous driving charge laid after vehicle hits building at 242 km/h: Ont. police

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A Sault man faces new charges, including dangerous operation of a vehicle, after police say he crashed into a building at over 240 km/h in September and fled.

A 27-year-old Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., man is facing additional charges, including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, in connection with an incident last month where a vehicle struck a building at high speed.

The new charges were laid on Sept. 29, 2025, following an investigation into the events of Sept. 10.

High-speed impact and flight from scene

The incident began around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 10, when 911 operators received a report that a vehicle had struck a building in the 100 block of Churchill Boulevard, causing significant damage.

Crash damages sault building A photo of the damage to a building in the 100 block of Churchill Boulevard in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., on September 11, 2025, following a high speed crash the day before. (Idiots of Sault Ste Marie/Facebook)

“It was reported the driver ran away from the scene,” the Sault Ste. Marie Police Service in its initial news release.

The subsequent investigation, which involved the police service’s bail compliance unit and traffic services, revealed extreme speeds were involved.

“The investigation determined the vehicle had been travelling at speeds up to 242 km/h before striking the building,” said Lincoln Louttit, Sault police’s manager of corporate communications, planning & research, in an email to CTV News.

Police said the accused did not report the collision and a warrant was obtained for his arrest.

Multiple Sault Ste. Marie Police Service vehicles Multiple police vehicles are shown parked in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., in this undated photo. (File photo/CTV News)

Officers allegedly assaulted during arrest

Following the initial investigation, officers located the accused at his residence on the same day as the crash. When police attempted to arrest him, officers said the accused became aggressive.

“The accused resisted by grabbing officers, pulling away and refusing to comply with verbal commands,” said police.

During the arrest, the accused is alleged to have bitten two officers — causing serious physical injuries to one — and spat on another officer.

The man was charged with aggravated assault of a peace officer, two counts of assaulting a peace officer, resisting a peace officer and breach of recognizance on Sept. 10 and was released following a bail hearing.

New charges

Last week, on Sept. 29, following the subsequent investigation into the crash, officers located the accused again and laid the new, driving-related charges.

The accused is now additionally charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, failing to report an accident, and driving while under suspension. The man was also charged with an additional count of breach of recognizance.

The accused was released again on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear in court on Oct. 6.

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