Impaired driver located in ditch by OPP after 911 call from concerned citizen

A Quebec driver is facing an impaired driving charge after a concerned citizen called the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) regarding a vehicle with its lights on in the ditch along Highway 401.

According to a release from the Lennox and Addington (L&A) County Detachment of the OPP, at approximately 1:40 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, officers were dispatched to the traffic complaint on Highway 401 westbound, just east of the Switzerville Road exit.

“A concerned citizen was driving by and noticed a vehicle in the ditch with its lights on and called 911. Police arrived on the scene and located the vehicle, driver and one passenger,” the OPP stated.

According to the release, police located alcohol in the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was showing signs of impairment and an Approved Screening Device (ASD) was administered to detect the presence of alcohol on the driver’s breath. The driver was subsequently arrested.

As a result of this investigation, L&A County OPP has charged Isabelle Cardinal-Racine, age 25, of Longueuil, Quebec, with:

• Operation of a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration exceeding the legal limit

Cardinal-Racine was released on an undertaking and is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Greater Napanee at a later date. Their licence was suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days. Cardinal-Racine will be responsible for all fees and fines related to the impoundment of their vehicle.

“Impaired driving is the #1 cause of criminal death in Canada and, yet, every impaired driving crash is preventable. By calling 911 and reporting suspected impaired drivers to police, all Canadians can play a role in keeping our roads, trails and waterways safe and in reducing impaired driving crashes, deaths and injuries,” the OPP said.