Skip to content

Unfit to drive? Impaired charges laid after car crashes through gym wall

If not for LA Fitness being closed due to COVID, situation could have been far worse had there been more people around, says police official
2020-06-23 LA Fitness crash SH
A vehicle smashed through the wall at LA Fitness in Barrie's north end, Monday night. Photo provided by Sam Hossack Media

Barrie police have laid charges after a vehicle crashed through the wall of a north-end business, Monday night. 

Last night at 9:25 p.m., officers were called to LA Fitness at the North Barrie Crossing Shopping Centre, located at Cundles Road East and Highway 400. 

"It's a little strange that someone would drive into a building," Barrie police communications co-ordinator Peter Leon told BarrieToday this morning. 

Where the vehicle struck the wall, there had been a door to an area that included the gym's water connections. 

"There was some interior damage and there was water flowing out" when officers arrived, Leon said. "There was a fair bit of intrusion into the building."

A 25-year-old man has been charged with impaired driving, over 80, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

The suspect was taken to nearby hospital to be checked out.

Thankfully, the gym has been closed to the COVID-19 pandemic, so there was no one at the facility at the time of the collision, Leon said.

"Given any other circumstances other than COVID, this could have been a far more serious situation," he said. "In hindsight, we are very fortunate, because a lot more people could have been there."

The neighbouring movie theatre is also closed and Leon said it could have been a time of day when a movie would be letting out during normal pre-COVID times.