The Fort St. James RCMP responded to a number of complaints related to vehicles and impaired driving in particular recently.
On Oct. 20 at 3:09 a.m., RCMP were called after a vehicle reportedly spun out and hit the ditch on Middle Road on the Nak’azdli Reserve.
The 2002 Pontiac Sunfire was by the ball diamonds and a female at the scene reportedly identified herself as the driver when RCMP arrived. Her boyfriend was identified as the passenger in the vehicle at the time.
Neither one was injured in the incident, but RCMP asked the driver to take a roadside screening for alcohol, which she failed.
The driver then provided further breath samples which RCMP said resulted in readings of 0.17 and 0.16, which are over double and double the legal limit of 0.08 respectively.
The vehicle was subsequently towed and impounded and the driver was issued a 24-hour roadside suspension and then a temporary licence for 21 days. After the 21 days, a 90-day driving prohibition will come into effect.
RCMP are recommending charges of impaired driving and driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.08.
Later on Oct. 20, at 9:05 p.m., RCMP members responding to a complaint on Pinchi Lake were alerted the subjects of the complaint had left in a truck.
The 2004 Toyota Tundra was then located and pulled over by the police, at the 18 km mark on the North Road or Germansen Landing Road.
In the vehicle, police say was an adult male driver, one adult passenger and two young children.
RCMP reported the driver was found to be prohibited from driving and also exhibited signs of intoxication and was subsequently brought to the detachment where he reportedly provided breath samples which produced blood alcohol readings of 0.210, more than double the legal limit.
The vehicle was impounded and the driver was given a Jan. 14 court date to face recommended charges of driving while prohibited and driving while having a blood alcohol level over 0.08.
Later on Oct. 20, at 11:09 p.m., RCMP were called to a single motor vehicle collision about 20 km south of Fort St. James on Highway 27.
The driver and two passengers sustained only minor injuries but the Ford Arrowstar minivan was badly damaged.
The driver said he was travelling below the speed limit but didn’t see a moose until it was too late and he struck the animal with the vehicle.
Emergency medical services also attended the scene and assisted the victims of the crash.
On Oct. 22 at 12:59 p.m., RCMP were called by a Nak’azdli Reserve resident who reported his vehicle’s windshield had been smashed with a rock.
The complainant said his girlfriend had threatened to smash the windshield and scratch his truck.
The complainant said he did not want to press charges but instead wants his girlfriend to pay for the damage to the vehicle.
Later on Oct. 22 at 5:13 p.m., RCMP responded to a report from a resident of Tache Reserve of a male driving around intoxicated.
While members were en route, more calls came in describing the same vehicle.
RCMP arrived and identified the vehicle they believed to be the one in question, a red Chevrolet Silverado pickup.
When RCMP stopped the vehicle, the pickup struck the front of the RCMP vehicle, causing some damage to the Silverado pickup.
The police vehicle was not damaged.
The driver then reportedly displayed signs of intoxication and had open liquor in the vehicle with him.
Breath samples the RCMP subsequently obtained resulted in reported readings of 0.230 and 0.220.
The driver also had matters before the courts regarding impaired driving and was indefinitely prohibited from driving already.
The suspect, a resident of Tache, was held overnight and released and will likely be facing further charges of impaired driving, driving while prohibited and driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.08.