A pedestrian injured during a crash Sunday morning was likely struck by an airborne fire hydrant at the intersection of Douglas and Chatham streets during a bizarre collision that flooded a nearby business.
More than 40 guests at Paul's Motor Inn had to be moved to accommodations downtown because of the water damage and extensive repairs required.
Preliminary investigations indicate the 73-year old driver of a Nissan Altima ran a red light in a southbound lane of Douglas Street about 11: 30 a.m. The car clipped a 2008 Ford Ranger heading west through the intersection onto Chatham, police said.
The pickup smashed through a fire hydrant and guardrail before landing in the parking lot of Paul's Motor Inn. Inside were a 19-year-old driver from Saanich and his passenger, also 19.
No one in either vehicle was injured. But a 67-year old pedestrian was hit by something believed to be the hydrant.
Const. Mike Russell reported Monday that the pedestrian remembers little beyond being hit and falling into the railing.
"Nobody really knows how he was injured. Medical staff don't think it was the truck, so the only other thing was the flying hydrant," Russell said.
Water from the broken line flowed into the hotel's basement, causing what could be hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage, hotel maintenance staff said.
"It's a major repair job," said Al Brown, who does maintenance work. "There's about 100 feet of concrete we have to remove."
No guest rooms were damaged, but about 40 guests who arrived late Sunday had to be moved to the Inn at Laurel Point while repairs continue.
