Sault crash leads to impaired, dangerous driving charges

Efforts to reduce impaired driving in the northeast seem to be working in some communities – provincial police say stats are still high.

A 54-year-old man has been charged after police responded to reports of an erratic driver and a single-vehicle collision in Sault Ste. Marie last weekend.

The Sault Ste. Marie Police Service said officers were called to the area of Pim Street and Queen Street around 1:45 a.m. on March 29 after 911 operators received complaints of a speeding vehicle that struck multiple traffic signs.

Police later located the suspect vehicle in the 800 block of Queen Street East, where it had driven over a curb and hit a utility pole.

“Upon speaking with the driver, officers developed grounds to believe their ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol,” police said in a news release.

The accused refused to provide a breath sample when demanded by officers.

As a result of the incident, the motorist faces multiple charges, including:

• operation while impaired by drug and/or alcohol,
• dangerous operation of a motor vehicle,
• defusal to comply with a breath demand,
• two novice driver-related offences (refusing a breath sample and having a blood-alcohol concentration above zero), and
• failing to notify of a change of address on a driver’s licence.

The man was released on an appearance notice and is scheduled to appear in court on April 28.