A Newton man was relaxing in his chair, watching television in his basement suite early Saturday morning when his world literally came crashing down around him.

A minivan, driven by a 20year-old Surrey man, plowed into the corner suite, straight through the wall, and pinned him in the wreckage. The crash started a fire, which Surrey firefighters put out as they worked to free the tenant.

Deputy Fire Chief Karen Fry said the 38-year-old victim was bleeding heavily.

"They had the fire knocked down pretty quickly," she added.

The man, whose name has not been released, was rushed to hospital where he remains in critical condition.

A police dog tracked down a suspect a couple blocks away, after the driver took off from the crash scene. Charges had not been laid by press time.

The crash happened at 7221 125th St., a few minutes before 3 a.m. Police say speed, alcohol and drugs are believed to have been factors.

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