Thunder Bay Algoma St. planter destroyed in impaired driving case

Thunder Bay's engineering director says city officials have assessed the damage caused by a single vehicle collision on Algoma Street over the weekend.

The planter and some protective barricades need to be replaced, and some curb extensions and lockstone need repairing, Kayla Dixon said.

Police have charged a 42-year-old man with drunk driving and dangerous driving after the incident.

"We will try and match what's there, because there are planters along the street," Dixon continued.

"But we are still assessing the costs and timelines around that and seeing what's available on the market."

Typically, repair costs are covered by the city's insurance or the person who caused the damage. Currently it's too early to say who will foot the bill, she said.

The curb extensions, or bump-outs, were installed a few years ago and the planters were subsequently added. City officials have said the planters are temporary installations until public art is chosen and constructed.

The Sunday morning crash destroyed the planter and sent the vehicle airborne before it landed back on the roadway, according to police. The driver had to be extracted from the vehicle and suffered minor injuries.

Police reported no one else was hurt.