Man who struck traffic sign, drove wrong way arrested for impaired driving

After striking a road sign and driving the wrong way on Concession Street, a local man is facing charges and a licence suspension.

At approximately 12:20 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020, police parked in the area of Concession Street and Leroy Grant Drive heard a loud crash and then observed a red minivan driving at a high speed the wrong way on Concession Street. The officers active their lights and emergency equipment, stopping the minivan as it was facing the wrong way on Concession Street at Princess Street. Police approached the vehicle and attempted to speak with the driver, however, as the traffic light turned green, the accused man drove through the intersection. The officers followed, and the accused man finally pulled over in a parking lot at Princess Street and Bath Road, according to a press release from Kingston Police on Monday, Jan. 13, 2020.

After speaking with the accused man, an officer observed that he was impaired by alcohol. The man was arrested and taken to Kingston Police headquarters, where he provided two breath samples. He was found to have approximately two times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

Investigating officers also discovered that the accused man had struck and damaged a road sign at the intersection of Concession and MacDonnell Streets. According to police, the sign was knocked over and there pieces of the accused man’s vehicle were found at the scene.

The accused man was later released with a future court date. His driver’s licence was automatically suspended for 90 days, and he will face a minimum one-year suspension if convicted. Additionally, the vehicle was impounded for seven days, and the accused will be responsible for all related fees and fines.

The 65-year-old Kingston man was charged with impaired operation of a conveyance (vehicle), and impaired operation of a conveyance while exceeding the legal blood alcohol concentration.