Salma Moosa shivered in the rain Monday at noon as she surveyed the damage that an out of control car did to the Country Meadows Best Western in Aldergrove.

"Thank God our guests had checked out an hour earlier or they'd have been killed," said Moosa, the general manager of the hotel.

The small Dodge pickup had careened straight across four lanes of Highway 13 from the McDonald's restaurant exit without hitting another vehicle, then jumped over a ditch and barreled down the hill into the west side of the Best Western.

The truck came a stop after going through four rooms and the adjoining corridor, then burst into flames inside the hotel, near the lobby. This small fire was quickly extinguished.

The driver was able to exit the vehicle and the hotel room it came to rest inside, but according to witnesses he was dazed and delirious. He did not appear to have life threatening injuries and was treated by paramedics for a small cut to his forehead before being taken away in an ambulance.

RCMP Corp. Holly Marks said that alcohol has been ruled out as the cause.

"The initial investigation has revealed a man in his forties, on his lunch break, had just purchased his meal at a local restaurant. He then suffered an as yet undetermined medical event causing him to lose consciousness," said Marks.

Hydro and gas were turned off to the building, which includes the White Spot restaurant, and occupants were evacuated without harm.

White Spot operator Colin Dawes wasn't happy about having to close down and turn away his lunch crowd but shared Moosa's sentiments that "at least no one was hurt."

Dawes said that the entire building had to be closed down for safety reasons while emergency responders quelled the fire and conducted the cleanup and removal of the truck.

Moosa added that hotel cleaning staff were also fortunate to be on a break when the truck came crashing through.

"It was very lucky in the timing, not so lucky in the damage," said Moosa.

From the highway the large hole in the wall punched by the truck allowed a clear view of the mattresses and furniture strewn about but the truck was not visible.

Both the hotel, aside from the damaged wing, and restaurant have since reopened for business.