'Disturbing': Alleged drunk driver found passed out with baby in Nanaimo
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say a woman was found passed out at the wheel of a parked truck while her baby and dog were in the backseat last week.
The Nanaimo RCMP say they were notified by Oceanside RCMP that a Ford F-150 truck was reportedly involved in a hit-and-run crash on Nov. 17.
Later that day, around 10:30 a.m., police found a vehicle that matched that description parked at the Nanaimo North Town Centre.
When officers went to check the vehicle, they found the woman passed out in the driver's seat with her infant strapped into a baby seat inside the truck, as well as a dog.
The vehicle was in park but the engine was still running, Mounties said.
The officers tried to wake the woman by yelling at her and knocking on the windows. However, they were unable to rouse the woman so they called paramedics and firefighters to help access the vehicle.
The 35-year-old driver was eventually woken up and exited the vehicle.
The mother and child were brought to hospital by paramedics out of an abundance of caution, at which point police say they could smell alcohol coming from the woman's breath.
The pair were examined at the hospital and the child was medically cleared and turned over to its father.
Meanwhile, the mother was taken to the Nanaimo RCMP detachment where two breath samples were taken which registered blood alcohol levels that were more than double the legal limit, police claim.
The woman was issued a 90-day driving ban, her vehicle was impounded for one day, and she was charged with impaired driving and driving while over the legal limit of .08, police say.
"This incident is disturbing on many levels but needless to say we are just glad that the child was not injured in any way," said Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien of the Nanaimo RCMP in a release Thursday.
None of the charges have been tested in court.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Ottawa injects another $36M into fund for those seriously injured or killed by vaccines
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Ex-SNC executive sentenced to prison term in bridge bribery case
The RCMP says a former SNC-Lavalin executive has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison in connection with a bribery scheme for a bridge repair contract in Montreal.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.