Friday, June 10, 2005

Update on Marine Search

(White River, ON) Jorge Melendez, 59 years, and a resident of Buffalo, New York, was visiting Ontario with friends for the purposes of fishing. At approximately 7:00 p.m. on Thursday 09 June, while fishing on Kabinakagami Lake in a 16-foot aluminum boat he stumbled and fell overboard. Another fisherman unsuccessfully attempted to pull the victim into a boat. The victim was reported to have gone under the water and did not resurface.

The victim was unable to swim and was not wearing a lifejacket.

Kabinakagami Lake is located 72 air miles north of Wawa, and 70 miles south of Hearst via private logging road.

OPP conducted a search using an OPP marine unit with assistance from the Ministry of Natural Resources and the OPP helicopter from Sudbury. Watson’s Skyway also assisted by providing air transportation for the OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit, which greatly expedited the recovery of the victim.

Drinking and Driving Charge

(Elliot Lake, Ont.) During routine traffic patrol on June 10th, 2005, police stopped a vehicle on Hirshhorn Avenue.

Upon speaking with the driver the officer suspected that the woman had been drinking.

Charged with driving with a blood alcohol limit over .08 is Eileen Joan FONTAINE (42) of Elliot Lake.

FONTAINE is scheduled to appear in court on August 16th, 2005.

Search for Missing Boater Continues

(White River, ON) OPP are continuing to search for a 59 year-old Buffalo, NY man presumed to have drowned after he fell out of a fishing boat last evening in Kabinakagami Lake.

At approximately 7:00 p.m., while fishing in a 16-foot aluminum boat, the victim stumbled and fell overboard. Another fisherman attempted to pull the victim into a boat, however was unsuccessful. The victim was reported to have gone under the water and did not resurface.

The victim was unable to swim and was not wearing a lifejacket.

The missing man was visiting Ontario and staying at the Pine Portage Lodge on Kabinakagami Lake. Kabinakagami Lake is located 72 air miles north of Wawa, and 70 miles south of Hearst via private logging road.

A cursory search was conducted immediately by the other fishermen, two paramedics and other guests of the lodge.

OPP currently has two Marine Units on scene, assisted by the Ministry of Natural Resources. The OPP helicopter from Sudbury is also on scene scouring the area. The OPP Underwater Search and Recovery Unit from London are en-route and will assist in the search and recovery tomorrow a.m.

16 Year Old Dies After Leaning Out Car Window

(Municipality of Huron Shores, Ont.) East Algoma O.P.P. have identified the victim in the fatal collision on Maple Ridge Road as 16-year-old Ricki-Lee WATKINS of Goulais Ave. in Sault Ste. Marie.

The investigation has revealed that a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old was east bound on Maple Ridge Road. Watkins was a passenger in the front and while unbuckled from her seatbelt leaned out the window of the car. The occupant struck a road sign and suffered fatal head injuries in the collision.

Two other persons were in the vehicle (16 and 17 years-old). No other persons suffered physical injuries from the incident.
The investigation is in the final stages and no charges are anticipated from this incident.

Impaired Charge

Echo Bay, Ont., A member of the OPP Traffic and Marine Unit, based out of the Sault Ste Marie Detachment, got an early start to fighting impaired drivers yesterday.

At about 9:00 a.m. yesterday morning the officer was conducting traffic enforcement in front of the school on Church Street in Echo Bay. A vehicle drove by the officer and the buckle of the driver’s seat belt was dragging on the roadway.

The officer pulled the car over and quickly determined that the driver had been drinking. He was taken back to the OPP detachment were a Breathalyzer test indicated that he was over the legal limit. Further investigation revealed that the man was driving while his licence is under suspension for four different reasons. One for driving while under suspension and a second for Impaired Driving.

Forty year old James LAPLANTE of Sault Ste Marie, Ont faces one charge of Impaired Driving and two counts of Driving while Prohibited under the Criminal Code of Canada. He will appear in bail court in Sault Ste Marie this morning. The car Mr. Laplante was driving will be impounded for the next 90 days.

Bear Call

Goulais River, Ont., Officers with the Sault Ste Marie OPP answered another nuisance bear call yesterday.

A resident on Martha Road in Goulais River called police to report that a bear was up a tree in her yard and won’t leave. She indicated that the bear has a tag in both ears. Apparently the MNR tags any bear that may have been caught in a trap. The resident was also provided with the MNR Bear Hot Line to report the animal.