Northern Ont. man charged after crash, confrontation with police

Ontario Provincial Police responded to a report of 'an impaired driver who crashed his pickup truck' on Highway 108 north of Elliot Lake, Ont., shortly before 1 a.m. on March 4, 2026. The driver, a 62-year-old local man, was charged with impaired operation and various other offences and the truck was subsequently towed and impounded. (Supplied/Ontario Provincial Police)

A 62-year-old man from Elliot Lake, Ont., faces a slew of charges after police say he crashed his pickup truck on Highway 108 and then became assaultive with police and medical staff.

The incident began early Wednesday morning at about 12:45 a.m., when Ontario Provincial Police received a report of an impaired driver who had crashed.

“OPP received a call of an impaired driver who crashed his pickup truck and was laying in the middle of the highway,” police said in a release.

OPP said that officers arrived on scene shortly after to find the driver walking in the southbound lane, being followed by the complainant. Upon seeing the officers, police say, the man attempted to flee on foot.

“The male proceeded to run away from police and attempted to get through the snowbank and deep snow before getting stuck,” OPP said.

Officers stated they encountered an uncooperative suspect who refused to speak or return to the roadway. The situation escalated when police moved to make an arrest.

“After numerous attempts to assist the male, police placed him under arrest, where he became assaultive and wanted to fight police,” said OPP.

Once in custody, the man was transported to hospital by paramedics as a precaution.

“The male continued his assaultive and irate behaviour during paramedic interaction and at the hospital towards nurses and doctors,” police said.

As a result of the crash and following interaction with police, the man has been charged with impaired operation, failing or refusing to comply with a demand, careless driving, failing to remain and failing to wear a seatbelt. He also faces charges of obstructing a peace officer, resisting a peace officer and assaulting a peace officer.

The pickup truck was towed and impounded following the incident.

In addition to the charges and the vehicle being impounded for a week at the owner’s expense, under provincial law, the accused’s driver’s licence was automatically suspended for 90 days.

The man is scheduled to appear in court in Elliot Lake on April 9.

The crash is the second reported incident on that stretch of highway in recent days, following another alleged impaired driving crash where a vehicle jumped a guardrail and crashed into a ditch.

Police appeal to public

In the wake of the incidents, the OPP issued a public reminder about the dangers of driving under the influence and asking residents to report those who do.

“The OPP remind motorists that no amount of alcohol or drug is acceptable to consume and drive,” police said.

Authorities ask anyone who observes a suspected impaired driver to call 911 or contact the OPP.

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