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Truck crashes through Green Party leader's Saanich office

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The destroyed Saanich office of federal Green Party leader Elizabeth May. A teen driver lost control of his truck Saturday night and crashed through the building at the corner of Quadra Street and Tattersall Drive.

The federal Green Party leader’s office in Saanich is in ruins after a truck careened off the road and took out the front wall Saturday night.

Just after 10 p.m., Feb. 5, a 17-year-old driver travelling southbound on Quadra Street lost control of his vehicle turning right onto Tattersall Drive. The truck slammed through Elizabeth May's constituency office, entering a neighbouring appliance store.

"It's definitely a complication for the campaign," said Jonathan Dickie, manager for May’s Saanich-Gulf Islands campaign. "It's a bit of a financial burden on a campaign and if we have an election this spring, it certainly hasn't happened at the best time."

Dickie doesn't have concerns over stolen or missing items from the office, used primarily as a meeting place for the party's approximately 100 volunteers.

Traffic safety officers arrived immediately to investigate the dramatic scene, which caught the attention of passersby on the busy street.

"Holy smoke, it's such a shock to see that whole wall smashed," said Clinton Dalsin, who got off of a passing bus to get a closer look ...You don't see stuff like this everyday."

The driver was charged with driving without due care and attention.

nnorth@saanichnews.com