Missing ATV rider charged with impaired driving in northern Ont.

An undated stock image of a man riding an all-terrain vehilce along an off road trail. (File photo/GettyImages/suriya silsaksom)

A 67-year-old man from Pearl, Ont., has been charged with impaired operation after Ontario Provincial Police located him driving an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on a rail bed in Dorion.

OPP were notified of a missing person at around 10 p.m. on July 4, 2025. The individual was reported to be operating an ATV in the area. Officers located the driver about an hour later near Black Bay Drive.

Authorities determined the driver was impaired by alcohol or drugs. According to this week’s OPP news release, the man “failed the approved screening device test” before being transported to the Nipigon detachment for further testing.

As a result, the ATV enthusiast was charged with two impaired driving offences – including operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of more than 80.

Under provincial legislation, the rider also received a 90-day driver’s licence suspension and the vehicle involved was impounded for seven days at the owner’s expense.

The accused was released from custody and is scheduled for a future court appearance in Nipigon.

Police reiterate warnings against impaired driving

In the release, OPP emphasized its commitment to removing impaired drivers from roads and trails through enforcement and education and urged the public to report impaired drivers.

“If you suspect that someone is driving while impaired by alcohol or drugs, it is important to call 911,” said police.