The stretch of Main Street between First and Second avenues was cordoned off for seven hours Sunday evening as Whitehorse RCMP investigated an alleged drunk driver who sent a number of people to hospital.

"It is very fortunate that no one was killed in this incident,” RCMP spokesman Sgt. Don Rogers said today of the high-speed rear-ender which occurred at around 8:30 last night.

According to police reports, a 22-year-old man driving a minivan slammed into the back of a taxi which was stopped at the light at Second and Main. The force of the impact sent the taxi through the intersection, police said.

Luckily, both the cab driver and passenger were wearing seatbelts, Rogers noted, although both were taken to Whitehorse General Hospital and treated for whiplash-related injuries.

The people in the minivan may not have been wearing seatbelts, Rogers said, and the 19-year-old female passenger suffered cuts to her head.

All four people were taken to Whitehorse General, treated and released, according to hospital officials

Both vehicles "are likely write-offs,” the sergeant said.

When police arrived on the scene, they tried to get a breath sample from the driver because they believed he had been drinking, "but he refused to blow,” Rogers said.

He also gave a false name to investigators, according to police.

The man was arrested.

He faces charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm, refusing to provide a breath sample and obstructing a peace officer.

Police are not releasing the man's name.

Court records, however, indicate 22-year-old Alexander Williams was arrested Sunday and charged with four counts of impaired driving, one count of refusing to provide a breath sample and one count of obstructing a peace officer.

He is being held in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon to apply for release.