'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
LIVE UPDATES Rain reduces wildfire activity, aids firefighters: Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials said Thursday night that rain over the day resulted in "minimal fire behaviour and spread."
Canadian Olympic Committee removes women's soccer team's head coach over drone scandal
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman over a drone scandal, according to a press release from the organization.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.
U.S. authorities have arrested 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel
Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a historic leader of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquin Guzman Lopez, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
Harris pushes Netanyahu to ease suffering in Gaza: 'I will not be silent'
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday to help reach a Gaza ceasefire deal that would ease the suffering of Palestinian civilians, striking a tougher tone than President Joe Biden.
'She led it the whole way': 18-year-old B.C. woman leads hikers to safety in Jasper National Park
As fire threatened people in Jasper National Park, Colleen Knull sprung into action.