Driver arrested after crashing into motel

By South Lake Tahoe Police Department
On December 16th at 8:30 AM, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and South Lake Tahoe Fire Department responded to a traffic collision on Cedar Ave. When they arrived on scene, they found a white Toyota pickup had crashed into the back side of the Ski Haus Lodge located at 977 Park Ave. The Toyota stuck a natural gas main that was spewing gas into the lodge and the odor could be smelled a block away.

Thanks to the quick response of emergency personnel, disaster was adverted and the gas main was shut off before it could ignite. The Ski Haus Lodge and the Economy Inn were both evacuated while emergency crews secured the gas main and cleared out the contaminated rooms.

The driver of the Toyota, Ronald MacKenzie, 26 year old from Colorado, was traveling northbound on La Salle Ave at an estimated speed of about 40 MPH when he attempted to make a left turn onto Cedar Ave without slowing down. Due to his speed, he lost control of his truck and collided with the back side of the lodge. La Salle Ave and Cedar Ave are both residential roadways with a speed limit of 25 MPH. MacKenzie was transported to Barton Hospital for minor injuries. He was subsequently arrested for alleged driving under the influence of alcohol. MacKenzie took a breath test at the scene which showed he was driving at a .11 percent BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration). The limit in California and Nevada is .08 percent BAC.