(PERTH COUNTY, ON) – During first weekend of festive Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere (RIDE) kickoff four people were charged with alcohol related driving offences in Perth County. A total of eight RIDE programs were conducted on the weekend throughout the county.
On Friday November 25, 2016 shortly before 11:00 pm, members of the Perth County Ontario Provincial Police (O.P.P.), OPP Highway Safety Division (HSD) officers and Stratford Police were conducting RIDE in the Municipality of West Perth. A driver that had entered the RIDE program was checked. As a result, 24-year-old, Lukas HEDLEY from Municipality of Bluewater was charged with operate motor vehicle over 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 milliliters of blood. The accused was released on a promise to appear is to appear on December 19, 2016 at Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford
On Friday November 25, 2016 shortly after 11:00 pm a citizen called in to report that they had seen a motor vehicle enter the ditch near intersection of Road 164 and Line 39 in Municipality of West Perth. Perth County OPP attended the scene and as a result of this investigation the driver was arrested and transported to the Perth County OPP detachment in Sebringville for breath tests. The driver, 28-year-old Trent TAYLOR from St Mary’s, was charged with driving with over 80 milligrams of alcohol and impaired driving. The accused was released on a promise to appear and was given a first appearance date of December 12, 2016 at Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford.
On Saturday November 26, 2016 shortly after 11:00 pm a car collided with a pickup truck on Perth Road 180 north of Line 44 in the Municipality of West Perth. Officers arrived at the scene and determined that one the drivers had been drinking. This driver was arrested and taken to the detachment for a breath test. The driver, 41-year-old Kiowa SWEICA SANTHO of the Municipality of Huron East, was charged with driving with over 80 milligrams of alcohol and impaired driving. The accused was released on a promise to appear and was given a first appearance date of December 12, 2016 at Ontario Court of Justice in Stratford.
On Sunday November 27, 2016 around 2:30 am, a single motor vehicle collision occurred at intersection of Main Street West and Mitchell Road South in the Municipality of North Perth. Officers attended the scene and determined that the driver had been drinking and transported the accused to the detachment for a breath test. As a result, 28-year-old Eric POZZOBON of Niagara Falls was charged with driving with over 80 milligrams of alcohol and impaired driving. The accused was released on a promise to appear and was given a first appearance date of December 21, 2016 at Ontario Court of Justice in Listowel.
“It is disappointing to see that these four people chose to put other members of the community at risk by selfishly drinking and driving. This even after the collective efforts of Perth County OPP, OPP HSD and Stratford Police in conducting Ride over the weekend. We will continue to encourage the reporting of suspected impaired driving. The OPP will continue R.I.D.E. programs throughout the holiday season to stop this crime and keep our communities safe.” Inspector Rob SCOTT, detachment commander, Perth County OPP.
The public is encouraged to use one of these options. If you plan on drinking or consuming drugs, plan to not drive. Instead, arrange for a designated driver, take a taxi, stay overnight or take public transit. If you suspect that someone is driving or is about to drive impaired, call 9-1-1 and report it.