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Pickup plows into B.C. hotel rooms

Last Updated: Monday, November 2, 2009 | 9:11 PM PT

A black pickup truck is partly buried in debris after crashing into a hotel in Aldergrove, B.C. A black pickup truck is partly buried in debris after crashing into a hotel in Aldergrove, B.C. (CBC)

A pickup truck plowed through the wall of a hotel in Aldergrove, B.C., Monday, then crashed through four rooms.

The driver was slightly injured but no guests or hotel staff members were hurt.

Police said the driver was leaving a parking lot across the street about midday Monday when he apparently suffered a medical event that rendered him unconscious.

Witnesses said the car accelerated across the street and became airborne before crashing through the wall of the Best Western Hotel near the intersection of 264th Street and the Fraser Highway.

"I don't think I have seen a vehicle go this far into a building," said Rob Clausen, Langley Township's assistant fire chief.

All four guest rooms penetrated by the vehicle were empty, one of them vacated by a guest about 20 minutes before the crash.

It could have been much worse, according to one hotel staff member

"We had an event over the weekend but they had all checked out. And the staff was having lunch so no one was in that part of the building," said Alanoor Tejpar.

Investigators walk through the hole created by the truck as it penetrated the building.Investigators walk through the hole created by the truck as it penetrated the building. (CBC)

The driver suffered a cut to his forehead and did not know where he was when rescuers pulled him out of the truck, Tejpar said.

The 78-room building will be partly closed while the extent of the damage is assessed.

"This entire wing we have shut down. We have some concerns about structural support," said Clausen.

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