Wednesday, April 2, 2003

CHARGES AFTER ?ROAD RAGE? INCIDENT
Garden River, Ont.,

Several OPP detachments were involved in a solving a "road rage" incident yesterday morning.

At about 8:15 a.m., a motorist was traveling on Hwy 17 in the Garden River First Nation. He was being followed by another vehicle and a transport truck. As the first car entered the 70 km/h zone a squirrel ran out in front of him. The motorist braked sharply and almost came to a stop for the animal.

He continued on and soon noticed that the truck was following him very closely. As the motorist got to the four lane section outside of Echo Bay, he pulled into the right lane to allow the truck to pass. The truck came along side and attempted to squeeze the motorist off the road.

The motorist pulled over on the shoulder and the truck pulled over. The driver of the transport got out of the truck and approached the other driver. He yelled at him for attempting to stop for a squirrel.

The truck driver pushed the victim, struck him on the side of the head and he fell to the ground. The truck driver then went to the car, took the keys out of the ignition and threw them in the Bar River. Luckily for the victim there was still ice on the river and he was able to recover his keys.

The victim reported this to the Blind River OPP. Contact was made with the driver of the truck and arrangements were made for him to surrender himself to the North Bay OPP office.

The 35-year-old truck driver has been identified at Allan Evers from Powassan, Ontario. He will face at least a charge of assault contrary to the Criminal Code of Canada.

The O.P.P. request that, if you saw any part of this incident or the erratic driving, you call them at 945-6834 during regular business hours or after hours at 1-888-310-1122.


ANOTHER IMPAIRED DRIVER
Sault Ste Marie, Ont.,

An officer with the Northeast Traffic and Marine Unit, based out of the Sault Ste Marie Detachment, stopped an impaired driver on Great Northern Road last night.

The officer was headed north out of the city when he came across a vehicle that was weaving in its own lane. The vehicle almost struck the snow bank and then was weaving in the other lane.

The car was pulled over and the driver showed obvious signs of impairment. The driver was arrested and blew over the legal limit on the breathalyzer.

Sixty-year-old Clarence Daynard of Sault Ste Marie will appear in court in May to answer a charge of Impaired Driving.


STOLEN TRUCK TIRES
Laird Twp, Ont.,

Sault Ste Marie OPP are investigating the theft of five truck tires from a business in Laird Twp.

Sometime between Sunday and Monday thieves took the tires from the yard. If anyone traveling in that area saw anyone leaving or traveling with these tires, Sault Ste Marie OPP and the owner of the tires would like to hear from you.