Impaired driving charges follow 911 call on northern Ont. highway

Ontario Provincial Police stopped a vehicle on Highway 11 in the Callander area after a 911 reporting a vehicle travelling southbound swerving across lanes, striking guardrails and travelling at greatly varying speeds. The driver was charged with impaired and the vehilce was impounded following the traffic stop on March 15, 2026. (Ontario Provincial Police/Facebook)

A 28-year-old man from Sarnia is facing impaired driving charges after police say his car was spotted swerving along Highway 11, striking guardrails and prompting a 911 call from a concerned motorist.

Ontario Provincial Police said police received the report about the erratic driver around 6 a.m. on March 15.

“A quick-thinking motorist helped officers remove a potential danger from the road early Sunday morning,” said OPP Const. Kyler Brouwer, in a social media outlining the incident.

“Ontario Provincial Police responded to a 911 call reporting a vehicle travelling southbound on Highway 11 in the Callander area that was swerving across lanes, striking guardrails and travelling at greatly varying speeds,” police said in the official news release.

Driver taken into custody

Officers located the vehicle and initiated a traffic stop as the driver exited onto the Clark Street ramp in Powassan. Upon speaking with the driver, police said officers observed signs consistent with alcohol impairment.

“The driver was arrested and transported to the North Bay OPP Detachment for further testing,” OPP said.

The driver has been charged two impaired driving offences – including operation while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration of 80 milligrams or more per 100 millilitres of blood.

In addition to the charge, the accused’s driver’s licence was automatically suspended for 90 days and the vehicle involved was towed and impounded for seven days.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in North Bay on April 7.

Public reminder against impaired driving

The police service used the incident to emphasize the dangers of impaired driving and to asked for public’s assistance in keeping roads safe.

“The OPP reminds motorists that impaired driving, whether by alcohol or drugs, puts everyone at risk,” said police, urging anyone who suspects a driver is impaired to call 911.

“Drive sober,” added Brouwer.