Willow Bunch -
According to the Coronach RCMP, on Sunday, August 30, a white Ford truck pulled into the parking lot of the the Jolly Giant Bar in Willow Bunch. The truck accelerated and collided with the north wall of the building.
A portion of the wall was severely damaged and two windows were broken out. Constable Regan Uliski did not have an estimate to the dollar value of the damage but described the damage as extensive.
According to Uliski, Coronach RCMP charged a 23 year old Coronach man with three Criminal charges: operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol, operating a motor vehicle with over 80 mg. % of alcohol per 100 ml. of blood, and dangerous driving. The accused was also charged with two provincial charges: driving while suspended and possessing or consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.
The driver and one passenger were transported by ambulance to hospital where they were assessed and released with no injuries.
Kim McKerricher from Horizon was in the bar when the truck hit. She said "it was like something you would see in the movies !"
"We had been golfing and stopped for supper. We hadn't ordered yet, we were just waiting." said McKerricher.
McKerricher was sitting with her back to the wall, her husband Zane was facing it. "I thought a propane tank had exploded, that's what it sounded like! The building shook!"
When McKerricher turned to investigate, she saw the front end of a white Ford truck sticking through the North wall of the Jolly Giant.
"The glass had flown onto the pool table, the truck was part way into the bar!" said McKerricher. "The passenger side was hanging in there."
According to McKerricher, there was nobody sitting close to the wall where the truck emerged. "There were 2-3 young guys having a bite to eat further up that wall. They jumped!"
McKerricher was thankful that nobody was hurt.
When smoke began to rise from the truck, the bartended suggested they vacate the bar.
One customer called 911, requested an ambulance, and everyone left the bar.
McKerrichers' truck was parked 5-6 feet away from the truck that was imbedded in the wall. Zane moved the truck away from the accident. When many townspeople started to gather and the couple saw nothing more they could do, they headed off to find supper.
Owner of the Jolly Giant, Renaud Bissonnette was at home when he got the call that the bar had been hit. "I was just getting ready to go down and help with supper and poker when I got the call - at 5:45." said Bissonnette. The Jolly Giant hosts poker on Sunday nights. Bissonnette had no estimate as to what the repairs will cost but he was able to keep the bar open and serve supper - poker was cancelled for the evening.
Bissonnette, like many people, was thankful that no one was hurt.
