Northern Ont. suspect accused of driving excavator while impaired

Police believe an impaired driver near Hearst, Ont., drove a truck into a ditch while impaired, then drove an excavator toward the scene to try and pull the truck out. (OPP photo)

Police believe an impaired driver near Hearst, Ont., drove a truck into a ditch while impaired, then drove an excavator toward the scene to try and pull the truck out.

The incident took place around 11 p.m. Jan. 23, James Bay Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release Friday.

Police responded to a report of a pickup truck in the ditch on Caithness Road in Jogues, just south of Hearst.

“The caller also reported observing an excavator travelling toward the location of the ditched vehicle,” police said.

“Officers located the excavator traveling northbound on Caithness Road and conducted a traffic stop. During their interaction with the driver, officers determined the individual had consumed alcohol.”

Drove the truck and the excavator

The suspect was arrested and taken to the Hearst detachment for more testing.

“The investigation revealed grounds to charge the individual with operating both the pickup truck and the excavator while impaired by alcohol,” police said.

“Open alcohol was discovered in the pickup truck during a search conducted incident to arrest. Further investigation revealed that the individual’s driver’s licence was criminally suspended.”

The 41-year-old from Jogues was charged with multiple counts of impaired driving, two counts of driving while prohibited, failing to report an accident, driving with open liquor and obstructing police.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Feb. 26 in Hearst. The pickup truck was impounded for 45 days.