Distracted driving campaign sees police lay 2,400 charges

IT WAS A BUSY March Break for the Ontario Provincial Police as officers laid more than 2,400 distraction-related charges during their annual distracted driving campaign.

OPP-investigated collisions that involved an inattentive driver have claimed

MARCH 15

5:30 PM | Waterloo Regional Police responded to a report of a collision on Erbs Road in Wilmot Township. A 72-year-old Waterloo man was travelling east on Erbs Road when his vehicle left the road and hit a mailbox. The vehicle then crossed the road and hit a wooden play structure and a large pine tree. The male was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the collision is still being investigated.

MARCH 16

1:17 AM | Perth County Ontario OPP members were conducting a RIDE program at the intersection of Main Street and Mill Street in Milverton when a blue Dodge pickup truck was checked. Upon speaking to the driver, the officer smelled an alcoholic beverage on the driver’s breath and saw signs of impairment. The 11 lives so far this year – almost triple the number of deaths compared to this time last year (4). Deaths linked to this dangerous driving behaviour continue to out-pace speed-related (9), alcohol/drug related (6) and seat belt-related fatalities (3) in 2017. driver was placed under arrest. The 19-year-old Perth East man was subsequently charged with ‘impaired driving’ and ‘drive motor vehicle with over 80 milligrams of alcohol.’ He was released from custody and is to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford on Apr. 3. His driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and the truck was seized for seven days. 10:30 AM |

Police received a report of a stolen motor vehicle from a rural residence on Side Road 15 in the Township of Mapleton. The vehicle is described as a white 2010 GMC Sierra bearing Ontario marker 2207FT. It was stolen sometime around midnight. The keys had been left in the vehicle. Any person with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122. Should you wish to remain anonymous, you may call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS) or submit a tip on-line at www.csgw.tips. You may be eligible for a reward from Crime Stoppers of up to $2,000. 8:00 PM | Regional police responded to a collision between a car and a motorcycle near Breslau. A 66-year-old Kitchener man was travelling northbound in the left turn lane of Victoria Street North, approaching Ebycrest Road, where, at the same time, a green Kawasaki ZX6 driven by a 31-year-old Kitchener man was southbound in the right lane of Victoria Street. The Buick turned left in front of the motorcycle, which struck the right front fender of the car, causing the rider to be ejected over the car, landing on the southwest corner of the intersection. The motorcyclist was transported to Grand River Hospital by ambulance before being transferred to Hamilton General Hospital in critical condi- tion. The occupants of the Buick were uninjured. The investigation is continuing and charges are pending.

MARCH 18

1:30 AM | Wellington County OPP responded to the report of a suspicious vehicle driving up and down 8 Line E, near Inverhaugh in the Township of Centre Wellington. Officers located the 2017 Toyota and while speaking with the driver detected the odour of an alcoholic beverage. A roadside screening test was conducted, resulting in a fail. The driver was placed under arrest and transported to a local OPP Operations Centre for further testing. The 21-year-old Waterloo woman was charged with ‘driving with more than 80 mgs. of alcohol in blood.’ Her driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and her vehicle seized for seven days. She is scheduled to appear in Guelph Criminal Court on Apr. 4, 2017 to answer to the charge.