Two impaired drivers on Highway 17

The Ontario Provincial Police arrested two impaired drivers on Highway 17 Aug. 18.

At 3:10 p.m., officers received a complaint about an erratic driver in a pick-up truck weaving all over Highway 17 east near Coniston.

“A nearby officer subsequently located the vehicle, and just as he was about to stop it, he observed it crash into an eastbound SUV as it turned left at the intersection of Highway 17 and Regional Road 55 (southeast by-pass),” stated a release from the OPP.

The 60-year-old Sudbury man who was driving the pickup truck has been charged with impaired driving, failing to provide a breath sample, driving while disqualified and operating a motor vehicle without insurance.

He is due to appear in court Sept. 16.

At 6 p.m. the same day, officers received another complaint about a possible impaired driver on Highway 17 West.

Officers located and stopped the vehicle on the highway near Hannah Lake Road.

The 50-year-old driver, from Sault Ste. Marie, was arrested. Alcohol was found in the centre console of the vehicle. He was charged with impaired driving, having over 80 mg of alcohol in his blood and driving a motor vehicle with liquor readily available.

“Officers would like to thank those motorists for their diligence and assistance, in both incidents, for keeping our roadways safe for everyone, and at the same time, for helping police in apprehending these impaired drivers,” stated a release from the OPP.

“Officers would like to remind everyone of the Operation Lookout program and call 911 or *OPP (*677) if you suspect a driver to be impaired, just like these people did.”