Single vehicle collision results in impaired driving charges

Kingston Police say they have laid impaired driving charges against a local man who was involved in a single motor vehicle collision on Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd, striking a hydro pole and causing a power outage to area residents and businesses.

On Monday, November 9, 2020 at approximately 1:00 a.m. a blue BMW sedan was travelling southbound on Sir John A. Macdonald Blvd when the 36-year-old driver lost control near Glengarry Rd, sheared off a wooden hydro pole that had a “Report Impaired Driving” sign attached to it, careened through some brush and came to a rest on the adjacent side of the multi- lane roadway. Kingston Fire and Rescue, Frontenac Paramedics and Utilities Kingston also attended on scene.

The driver appeared uninjured and declined medical assistance. As they spoke to him, Kingston Police came to believe that the driver had been consuming alcohol and was impaired. He was arrested and Kingston Police say he later provided breath samples indicating his blood alcohol level was approximately one-and-a-half times over the legal limit. He was consequently charged with impaired driving and operating a motor vehicle while in excess of the legal limit of alcohol.

The male’s driver’s licence was seized and automatically suspended for 90 days, where upon conviction he would see a minimum one-year suspension. His vehicle was towed and through provincial legislation is impounded for seven days, the owner being responsible for all costs. He was later released from police custody with a future court date.

Sir John A. Macdonald was closed overnight in both directions between John Counter Blvd and Glengarry Rd, with Utilities Kingston providing an estimate of 2:00 p.m. for the main thoroughfare to reopen after repair work is completed.