3 store employees hurt after truck crashes into Calgary Co-op
Roads are closed around the midtown Co-op after a stolen transport truck crashed into the west side of the store Thursday afternoon, injuring three people.
Police were called to the Midtown Co-op at around 2:35 p.m., after receiving reports that a large truck drove into the side of the building.
The driver of the truck fled the scene.
Officials say the truck came from eastbound 10th Avenue, then headed south on 11th Street before crashing into the side of the building.
"Too fast," said one witness. "Way too fast. He lost control immediately, he made a turn, he was skidding out and you can see in the (damage to) the building how fast he was going."
A store employee meanwhile described the scene inside the store.
"The fire alarms went off. We could see smoke and dust coming out from the back. We just started evacuating customers and employees out of the building."
The impact of the collision crumbled the bricks of the store wall.
Tow truck works to remove stolen transport truck from Midtown Co-Op Thursday
The fire department's heavy rescue crew is working with a city engineer to figure out how to extricate the truck.
CTV News spoke to some Co-op employees, who said that three people were slightly injured in the collision. The employees were taken to hospital as a precaution.
"The store has been evacuated of all customers and staff," said Calgary Fire Department spokesperson Carol Henke. "Staff who need to go in and retrieve things are being escorted by fire department staff, and currently no one is going inside the building until a city engineer has assessed the extent of the structural damage."
A spokesman for the company that owns the truck said it was stolen from in front of an office in Sunalta.
Police and firefighters are currently on scene. Roads in the area of 11th Avenue S.W. are closed and are expected to remain closed for the next several hours.
Officials advise the public to avoid the area until further notice.
Anyone with information or video or photos can send them to the fire department at piofire@calgary.ca.
This is a developing story. It will be updated as more information comes available.
With files from Stephanie Thomas
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Regina police officer injured after being accidentally shot by fellow officer's gun
An investigation is underway after a Regina police officer was accidentally shot by a fellow officer’s gun during the search of a house early Friday morning.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.