(THAMES CENTRE, ON) Three parties sustained injuries and a male has been charged as a result of a two-vehicle collision that occurred Sunday evening in the Municipality of Thames Centre. On August 18 2013 at 7:08 p.m. Middlesex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a collision at the intersection of Elgin Road at Hamilton Road in the Municipality of Thames Centre.
A blue Hyundai car carrying two adults and a young child was southbound on Elgin Road when an orange Dodge car with a lone occupant collided with the Hyundai as it attempted to turn left onto Hamilton Road. Police soon learned that the driver of the Dodge car had been drinking.
The adults in the Hyundai were transported to hospital with minor injuries. The child did not sustain any injuries in the collision.
The driver of the Dodge car was transported to hospital with minor injuries where police conducted further tests. As a result of an investigation police have charged Steven Mark SMITH, age 52 of Thames Centre, ON with:
Impaired operation of a motor vehicle as per section 253(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada (CCC)Over 80mg as per Section 253(1)(b) of the CCC
Turn left – fail to afford reasonable opportunity to avoid collision as per section 148(5) of the Highway Traffic Act (HTA)
The driver’s licence has been suspended for 90 days and his vehicle has been impounded. The driver was released from police custody by way of a Promise to Appear (PTA) and is scheduled to appear in a London Court room on October 10, 2013 to speak to the charges.
Every day, four more Canadians are killed and 175 more are injured due to crashes related to alcohol and/ or drugs. The Middlesex OPP is committed to working with all our local stake holders and community partners to stop impaired driving. If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired you are encouraged to contact the OPP anytime anywhere in the Province of Ontario at 911 or 1-888-310-1122. If you wish to remain anonymous you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) where you may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.