Kemptville man charged for driving drunk after calling police for traffic control on Hwy. 417

OPP caught an impaired driver on the 417 after the man called police for assistance when his car broke down near Vanier Parkway. (OPP/X)

A Kemptville driver is facing impaired driving charges after he requested that police officers assist him with traffic control when his car broke down on Highway 417.

In a news release, Ontario Provincial Police say they received a call from a person whose vehicle had broken down on the side of the highway near Vanier Parkway at approximately 9:30 p.m. last Wednesday.

The driver had requested police to attend to scene to assist with traffic control until a tow truck could arrive.

“What the driver neglected to mention was that he had struck a sign with his vehicle in the City of Ottawa and fled the scene prior to police arrival,” OPP said.

As officers were speaking to the driver, police suspected the driver was under the influence of alcohol. Officers used a roadside screening device, and the driver was brought to the police detachment for further testing.

The 59-year-old man faces two counts of operation while impaired.

His driver’s licence was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle was impounded for seven days.

He is set to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Ottawa at a later date.

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