East Ferris Ont. (Rajeev Sharma): A 29-year-old man from Northern Ontario is facing multiple impaired driving charges following a peculiar series of events in the Municipality of East Ferris. According to the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the man allegedly fled the scene of a crash only to return and attempt to drive his vehicle away while officers were still conducting their investigation.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of February 13 on Hillcrest Road. OPP officers responded to a report of a vehicle in a ditch at approximately 3:20 p.m., but upon arrival, they found the car abandoned. While police were still on-site processing the scene, the situation took an unexpected turn: the vehicle was pulled from the ditch and seen traveling westbound, away from the officers.
Police quickly initiated a traffic stop and engaged with the driver. During the interaction, officers observed signs of impairment and determined that alcohol was a factor in the initial collision. The driver was subsequently arrested and transported to the North Bay OPP detachment for further breathalyzer testing.
The 29-year-old local resident has since been charged with two impaired driving offences, including operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding 80 mg. In addition to the criminal charges, the motorist received an immediate 90-day administrative driver’s licence suspension, and the vehicle involved was impounded for seven days.
Following the arrest, the accused was released from custody and is scheduled to make his first court appearance in North Bay on March 17. The OPP utilized the incident as a public reminder that road safety remains a collective responsibility, urging citizens to make sober choices and report any dangerous driving behaviors to the authorities immediately.
