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Driver charged with impaired after vehicle ditched near St. Joseph Island

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Police have charged a Blind River man with impaired driving after a vehicle ended up in a Highway 17 ditch on Saturday night.

In a news release issued today, the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reports that officers responded to the scene near the St. Joseph Island turnoff shortly after 9:30 p.m.

The accused, David Calder, is scheduled to appear in court on March 4.

Full text of the OPP news release follows:

TARBUTT-TARBUTT ADDITIONAL TOWNSHIP - On Feb. 6, 2021 shortly after 9:30 p.m., members from the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a report of a vehicle in the ditch on Highway 17 between Barr Road and MacLennan Road in Tarbutt-Tarbutt Additional Township.

Police attended the scene and observed a vehicle stuck in the ditch in the centre median and during the investigation it was determined that the driver had consumed alcohol. The driver was arrested and transported to Thessalon Detachment for further testing.

As a result of the investigation, the driver, David Calder, 31 years of age from Blind River, was charged with:
    •    Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs, contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC); and with
    •    Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), contrary to section 320.14(1)(b) of the CC.

The accused was released on an Undertaking and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Blind River on March 4, 2021.

The accused was issued a 90-day administrative driver's licence suspension (ADLS) and the vehicle was impounded for seven days.