Police chase nets 2nd drunk driving charge

A man faces his second impaired driving charge in the past few months after leading police on a high speed chase Sunday night.

Officers tried to stop a Pontiac Montana van Sunday night around 9 p.m. at Portage Avenue and Arlington Street, but the van took off at high speed. Police briefly gave chase and the van nearly hit another police car at Portage and Kennedy Street before the driver was caught at Main Street and Selkirk Avenue.

Aaron Meekis was standing outside the Yale Hotel when the van hit a truck and cab. The impact drove the truck into the wall of the Main Street building. Meekis said he was lucky to be alive. "I could have been killed, man."

Police said David Singh Grewal is charged with:

• Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle
• Flight from police
• Impaired driving
• Failure to provide a breath sample
• Fail to comply with recognizance
• Various Highway Traffic Act offences

CBC News has learned that Grewal, 28, is still pending on a previous impaired driving related charge from last Dec. 18, and police saidhe does not have a valid driving licence. He is in custody.