Three impaired drivers charged by L&A OPP within two hours

The afternoon of Tuesday, Jul. 25, 2023, was a busy one for officers from the Lennox and Addington (L&A) County Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP). Within two hours, three drivers — two of whom were involved in separate collisions — were charged with impaired driving.

The first incident was a single motor vehicle collision on Highway 33 west of Greater Napanee. According to a release from the OPP, at approximately 12 p.m. the call for service came in to the detachment.

“Initial information provided that one person was still in the passenger seat, and the driver was out of the vehicle, pacing around,” the OPP stated. “Officers arrived on scene and determined that the male driver of the vehicle was showing signs of impairment and the driver was subsequently arrested.”

The passenger sustained minor injuries, and the driver was transported back to the L&A Detachment for a drug recognition evaluation (DRE).

As a result of this investigation, L&A County OPP has charged David Sargent, age 50, of Greater Napanee, with:

• Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs

A short half hour later, at 12:30 p.m., L&A OPP officers were patrolling on County Road 7 in Loyalist Township when they observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed, and passing other vehicles.

According to the OPP, the vehicle was travelling 148 km/hr in an 80 km/hr zone. The vehicle was stopped and officers determined that the lone driver of the vehicle was showing signs of impairment. An Approved Screening Device (ASD) was administered, and the driver was subsequently arrested and transported back to the L&A OPP Detachment for further testing.

As a result of this investigation, Zachary MacDonald, age 28, of Greater Napanee is facing the following charges:

• Operating a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit
• Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs
• Stunt driving (driving at excessive speed)

The third incident, another single motor vehicle collision, took place at approximately 2 p.m., when L&A OPP received a call for service regarding a collision on Hinchey Road, in Shannonville.

According to the release, officers arrived on scene and located the lone male driver with minor injuries. Officers conducted a Standardized Field Sobriety Test (SFST) on the lone male driver of the vehicle, who was subsequently arrested. The driver was transported back to the L&A OPP Detachment for a drug recognition evaluation (DRE).

As a result of this investigation, L&A County OPP has charged Gilles Jr Groleau, age 53, of Shannonville, with:

• Operating a motor vehicle while impaired by alcohol and drugs

All three accused individuals were released on an undertaking and are scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Greater Napanee in August 2023. Their licences were suspended for 90 days, and their vehicles were impounded for seven days.