Collingwood Impaired Driving Investigation leads to Police Pursuit, Two Drivers Arrested

(COLLINGWOOD, ON) – Just before 11:30 pm on the evening of February 13^th, 2025 members of the Collingwood and The Blue Mountains Ontario Provincial Police responded to a report of a possible impaired driver.  The vehicle with a female driver and male passenger was last seen leaving a parking lot headed southbound on Balsam Street in the Town of Collingwood, ON.

While enroute, officers received an update that the vehicle had returned to the parking lot.  The male passenger exited the suspect vehicle and got into the driver’s side of another vehicle that was in the parking lot. Both vehicles then departed in different directions. Officers then split off in search of the male driving a black Chevy Silverado and the female driving a Chevy Trax.

Police located the Silverado westbound on Highway 26 in the Blue Mountains area near the Craigleith Provincial Park. During the traffic stop, the officer attempted to arrest the driver for impaired operation but the Silverado took off westbound on Highway 26 towards the Village of Thornbury, ON.  A Suspect Apprehension Pursuit was initiated by the officer with several police units converging on the location.

The Silverado was intercepted by police a few minutes later and boxed in near the intersection of Highway 40 and Grey Road 2 near Thornbury, ON.  The male driver attempted to flee a second time by ramming one of the police cruisers.  At this point, officers effected a gun point arrest.  The male, identified as 48-year-old Jody Smits, was then taken into custody without further incident.  No officers were injured during the incident and the police cruiser incurred minor damage.  During the investigation, police determined that Smit was in violation of 7 driving prohibitions under the Criminal Code and 1 driving suspension under the Highway Traffic Act.

Meanwhile, the second involved vehicle, the Chevy Trax, was spotted by police in the West side of Collingwood travelling eastbound on Highway 26.  The Trax was stopped by police without incident and the 43-year-old female driver was arrested for impaired driving.  In addition, the female, identified as Jacquelynne Thorpe-Stewart of New Lowell, was found to be in possession of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance.

Collingwood and The Blue Mountains OPP held Smits in custody pending a bail hearing in Owen Sound court. Smit has been charged with:

• Dangerous Operation – Criminal Code s320.13(1)
• Flight From Peace Officer – Criminal Code s320.17
• Operation while Impaired – Criminal Code s320.14(1)(a)
• Operation while Impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) – Criminal Code s320.14(1)(b)
• 7 counts of Operation while Prohibited – Criminal Code s320.18(1)(a)
• 1 count Driving while under Suspension – Highway Traffic Act s53(1)

Thorpe-Stewart was released from custody charged with:

• Operation while Impaired – Criminal Code s 32.14(1)(a)
• Operation while Impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus) – Criminal Code s320.14(1)(b)
• Possession of a Schedule 1 Substance – Control Drugs and Substances Act s4(1)

Members of the Collingwood & Blue Mountains OPP remain committed to taking alcohol/drug-impaired drivers off our roads through enforcement and public education. If you know or suspect that a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs, call 9-1-1. In doing so, you may save a life.

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