Man arrested for impaired driving after leaving scene of collision

An impaired driver was stopped by police after hitting a mailbox and driving into a ditch on Sunday, Jul. 7, 2019.

The accused man was observed by a witness driving west on Highway 2 in the east end of Kingston at approximately 7:40 p.m. After driving his motor vehicle into a ditch and striking a mailbox, the accused proceeded to reverse out of the ditch and drove west on Highway 2 without a front bumper affixed to his motor vehicle.

Police were able to locate the suspect vehicle in the area of Division Street and Dalton Avenue.

The accused did not pull over immediately for police, who had activated their emergency lights. Once stopped, he also refused to open his driver’s side window to speak with police.

When the accused eventually exited the motor vehicle to speak with police, the vehicle began to roll backwards, nearly striking another officer before it could be stopped.

Police arrested the accused at approximately 7:55 p.m. Upon searching him, Police located a small baggie containing a glass pipe and white substance suspected to be crystal methamphetamine. The accused man refused to complete tests administered by a Drug Recognition Expert at police headquarters.

The accused man was held to attend a bail hearing the following day. His driver’s licence is automatically suspended for 90 days and he will face a one-year suspension if convicted. The vehicle was seized and impounded for seven days, and the accused will be responsible for all fees and fines.

The 48-year-old man was charged with impaired operation of conveyance, leaving an accident scene, failure to accompany peace officer for physical coordination tests, and three counts of breach of probation.