Impaired driver located thanks to witness’ assistance

A concerned citizen helped police locate an impaired driver after that driver struck a street sign and continued driving, Kingston Police said.

On Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 at approximately 1 a.m., the accused man was driving in the area of Portsmouth Avenue and Bath Road when he struck the sign. The vehicle had a significant amount of damage from the collision, but the driver failed to stop, according to a press release from Kingston Police.

A witness called police and assisted officers in locating the vehicle, which was on Elliot Street near Division Street. Officers initiated a traffic stop and, at first, the vehicle stopped, but then suddenly accelerated and turned onto Division Street. The driver continued southbound at a high speed with police following, before turning onto Day Street where he finally stopped.

Officers on the scene observed that the driver was impaired by alcohol. He was arrested and taken to Kingston Police Headquarters. There, the driver provided two breath samples, and he was found to have more than two times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

The 30-year-old local man is charged with impaired driving and operating a vehicle with over 80 mg of alcohol in his system. His driver’s licence is automatically suspended for 90s, and he will face a one-year suspension if convicted. His vehicle was seized and impounded for seven days, and he will be responsible for all associated fees and fine.