UPDATED: Car crashes into Amherst home after fleeing traffic stop, driver injured, arrested and charged

AMHERST, N.S. — Two people are in hospital following a police chase resulting in a vehicle crashing into a home in Amherst on Tuesday, Oct. 17, and one of them is facing a growing list of charges.

Amherst Police said officers attempted a traffic stop on Spring Street around 1 a.m. when the driver, later identified as Jason Leroy Leblanc of Amherst, fled at a high speed.

Officers said the Leblanc, 46, blew through several stop signs before appearing to stop at the intersection of Spring and Willow Street, but it turned out the car had gone off the road and struck a house at the intersection.

Leblanc and a female passenger were both injured and taken to hospital.

He has since been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing bodily harm, six counts of possession of property obtained by crime, five counts of weapon possession for a dangerous purpose and breaching a weapons prohibition, flight from police, criminal negligence causing bodily harm, driving while prohibited, and possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking. The major crime unit will continue the investigation, and additional charges are expected.

The Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) has also been advised of the incident as per provincial protocol.