Kelowna man charged with impaired driving after falling asleep in running truck in Calgary

Calgary police are seen in the downtown core. (CPS handout)

A Kelowna, B.C. man is suspected of being impaired when he fell asleep at the wheel of a running vehicle in downtown Calgary on Monday.

The driver of a black GMC Sierra was slumped over the wheel in the intersection of Fifth Avenue S.W. and Ninth Street S.W. when he was reported to police.

The truck’s brake lights were on and a CTrain barrier had fallen onto the truck’s bed.

Police contained the vehicle to make sure it wouldn’t lurch forward.

They tried to wake the driver up using sirens and loudspeakers, but he remained unresponsive.

Officers then broke the passenger side window to get inside, which woke the driver. He was removed from the vehicle.

Police found open alcohol and drug paraphernalia, a folding knife hidden in the diver’s waistband, around 30 grams of crystal meth, around 30 grams of crack cocaine, three nitrous oxide canisters, and $540.

The estimated street value of the seized drugs was $5,100.

The 41-year-old Kelowna man was charged with two counts of possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking, one count of possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime, one count of criminal code impaired driving, one count of carrying a concealed weapon, one traffic summons for driving an uninsured motor vehicle on a highway, and one summons under the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis regulations of transporting liquor in an open container.

He’s scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.

“This driver put pedestrians, motorists and CTrain occupants at risk in a heavily populated area of our downtown,” said Calgary police Insp. Rob Patterson..

“Had his foot slipped off the brake when he became unconscious, people likely would have been hurt,” Patterson added. “This is entirely unacceptable and we will hold him, and other suspected impaired drivers, accountable to the full extent of the law,”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Calgary police at 403-266-1234. Those wishing to remain anonymous can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477, online or by downloading the P3 Tips app.