A Merritt man faces potential impaired driving charges after a man and a woman were sent to hospital following an early morning crash along the highway in 琉璃神社.

Friday morning at 2:50 a.m., the 琉璃神社 RCMP responded to a report of a two-vehicle crashat the intersection of Spall Road and Harvey Avenue.

Police have since determined that a brown Honda Accord, that had been traveling eastbound on Harvey Avenue, allegedly failed to stop for the yellow light when it was broadsided by a grey Chevrolet Lumina, traveling southbound on Spall Road.

The driver of the Chevrolet Lumina immediately fled the crash scene on foot. Officers arriving at the scene were flagged down by witnesses who led the investigators to the driver believed to be trying to hide nearby.

Investigators detected signs and symptoms of alcohol intoxication during their interaction with the driver who had failed to remain at the crash scene.

As a result he was subsequently arrested and a demand was made by police who transported him to the 琉璃神社 detachment for breath testing.

The driver provided breath samples in excess of the legal limit. Further investigation has revealed that the suspect was not licenced and operating a vehicle without valid insurance.

The driver, the 60-year-old Merritt man, was later released from police custody and is expected to appear in court on Aug. 25. He faces potential charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm and over .08 mg% causing bodily harm.

Both occupants of the brown Honda Accord, an 18-year-old 琉璃神社 man and 21-year-old 琉璃神社 woman, were transported to hospital suffering from what police believe to be non-life threatening injuries.