The South Porcupine OPP implemented its traffic management plan over the Labor Day weekend focused on highway, ATV and vessel safety.
One person was charged with drinking and driving related offences stemming a traffic complaint.
A pickup truck driver was stopped by an Ontario Provincial Police Highway Safety Division officer on Hwy 655 north of Timmins on Sunday afternoon (01 SEP) pursuant to an erratic driving complaint.
Based on observations made by the OPP officer, the driver was arrested and was then required to complete Intoxilyzer testing.
As a result, William GALLAGHER, 62, of Terrace Bay, Ontario was charged with Impaired Operation and Operate Motor Vehicle – Over 80 mgs.
He is required to attend Provincial Court in Timmins on October 1st to answer to the charges laid against him. His vehicle was towed from the scene.
On August 30th, an OPP officer had occasion to observe a 2006 Saturn Vue SUV allegedly being driven at a speed of 138 km/h in a posted 80 km/h zone on Hwy 101 in Carscallen Twp. (west of Timmins).
Daniel ST-PIERRE, 56, of Wawa, Ontario, was charged with Street Racing contrary to the Highway Traffic Act and is required to attend Provincial Court on October 10th,
2013, to answer to the charge laid against him.
His vehicle was impounded for 7 days and his driver’s licence has been suspended for 7 days.
On August 30th, an Iroquois Falls OPP officer stopped a Volkswagen Jetta passenger vehicle for an alleged traffic violation on Hwy 11 in Clergue Twp.
It was determined that the driver, Derek EDEN, 22, of Wainfleet, Ontario, was currently under suspension in the province of Ontario.
He has been charged with Driving Under Suspension contrary to the Highway Traffic Act and is required to attend Provincial Court in Timmins on October 10th to answer to the charge laid against him.
On August 31st, a traffic complaint was received regarding aggressive driving in the form of tailgating in reference to a tractor trailer unit on Hwy 11 in Benoit Twp. (south of Matheson). The vehicle was located a short while later by OPP officers who charged Rajpal JHUTY, 44, of Vancouver with Follow Too Closely contrary to the Highway Traffic Act.
Provincial OPP Stats
With a busy 2013 Labour Day Long Weekend behind them, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reported three fatalities in OPP jurisdiction over the weekend, but they are relieved to see a steady decline in the number of Labour Day weekend traffic deaths.As part of their ongoing efforts to save lives, the OPP stepped up enforcement on highways, waterways and trails over the weekend and particular attention was being cast on motorists who were caught driving distracted.
Sadly, a 16 year-old male died after being struck by a motor vehicle while he was skateboarding. A 41 year-old woman died in a motor vehicle collision after being ejected from the vehicle and another man (age unconfirmed) died when he lost control of his off-road vehicle (ORV).
“Despite the tragic loss of three lives this past weekend, when we look at the last five years, I am encouraged to see a 23 per cent decline in Labour Day weekend fatal road crashes in OPP jurisdiction and a 100 per cent drop in marine fatalities on OPP policed waterways,” said Chief Superintendent Don, Bell, Commander, OPP Highway Safety Division. “In contrast, Labour Day weekend ORV fatalities are up 25 per cent over the same five-year period and I encourage the ORV community to work with the OPP to reduce these numbers,” added Bell.
“It was disappointing to see distracted drivers continue to pose a risk to road users this past weekend, with our officers laying 397 distracted driving charges compared to 107 impaired driving charges”, said Deputy Commissioner Larry Beechey, Provincial Commander, Traffic Safety and Operational Support.
According to Beechey, aggressive driving continues to be a significant problem on long weekends and the Labour Day weekend was no exception with 6,078 speeding charges and 64 street racing charges being laid (for driving 50 km/h or more over the posted speed limit).
Various other charges were laid, including 535 seat belt charges and a total of 87 Warn Range suspensions were issued to drivers with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) in the 0.05 to 0.08 range (or 50 to 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood).
