Teen driver faces impaired driving charges after Christmas Eve accident

Snow on Highway 11 signs. (CTV News/David Sullivan)

A 19-year-old was charged with multiple offences after allegedly crashing into a Highway 11 ditch in Orillia on Christmas Eve.

According to Orillia OPP, a witness observed a vehicle strike a snowbank before getting stuck in a ditch on Highway 11 southbound near Memorial Avenue. Officers were dispatched just after 11:30 p.m.

Police say the responding officers observed the driver showing signs of intoxication, leading them to begin an impaired driving investigation. The driver was arrested and brought back to the detachment for further testing.

The 19-year-old driver from Huntsville was charged with four offences, including two related to impaired driving, as well as blood alcohol concentration above zero for a novice driver and young driver.

The accused is scheduled for a future court date in Orillia. Their licence was suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was impounded for seven days.