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Police have charged Kirby Sampson of St. Joseph Island with impaired driving following an incident on Highway 17 Thursday evening, states a news release issued today by the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
Officers responded after receiving a complaint that a driver was "in and out of traffic, swerving and hitting guard rails" in the Blind River area.
Full text of the news release follows:
BLIND RIVER - On March 24, 2022 shortly after 6 p.m., members from the East Algoma Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a traffic complaint involving a car that was in and out of traffic, swerving and hitting guard rails, on Highway 17 in the Town of Blind River.
A short time later, police located the suspect car east of Blind River stopped on Highway 17 in the right lane within the eastbound passing lanes after having struck the eastbound guard rail.
As police were speaking to the driver of the car, officers determined alcohol had been consumed. The driver was arrested and transported to Blind River detachment where further testing was conducted.
As a result of the investigation, Kirby Sampson, 53 years of age from St. Joseph Township was charged with:
• Operation while impaired - alcohol and drugs, contrary to section 320.14(1)(a) of the Criminal Code (CC)
• Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus), contrary to section 320.14(1)(b) of the CC
• Dangerous operation, contrary to section 320.13(1) of the CC
The accused is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Elliot Lake on May 5, 2022. The accused was issued a 90-day administration drivers licence suspension (ADLS), and the car was impounded for seven days.
Reporting impaired driving is everyone's responsibility. Call 9-1-1 if you suspect an impaired driver.