NEWS RELEASE
NIAGARA REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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On Aug. 5, 2019 at approximately 11:30 p.m., our 1 District uniform officers responded to a residence in the area of St. George Street and Facer Street in response to a report of a vehicle striking a house.
Upon arrival, police located a brown Ford Fusion with severe damage to the front grill and rear bumper.
The investigation determined the driver [allegedly] reversed out of a driveway across St. George Street and struck a house, striking a natural gas line. The driver then [allegedly] drove forward again across St. George Street striking another house.
The severed gas line caused a fire. Police evacuated nearby homes as a precaution. The fire was extinguished by the St. Catharines Fire Service.
The driver of the vehicle, 63-year-old, Taralee J. Lawson of St. Catharines was arrested at the scene and charged with the alleged offences of:
- Impaired operation of a motor vehicle
- Operate motor vehicle - over 80
The damage estimate is at:
- Ford Fusion - $12,000
- House 1 (severed gas line) - $50,000
- House 2 - $5,000
No one was injured as a result of this incident.
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