Teen charged with impaired driving after vehicle hits OPP cruiser on Ottawa highway: OPP

Ontario Provincial Police say a vehicle crashed into the back of an OPP cruiser on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa Sunday morning. The driver of the vehicle was charged with impaired driving. (OPP/X)

An 18-year-old Ottawa man is facing impaired driving charges after his vehicle struck the back of an OPP cruiser on Highway 417 in Ottawa, according to police.

An Ontario Provincial Police officer was on the scene of a collision in the westbound lanes of Hwy. 417 near Metcalfe Street just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday.

Police say the officer observed a vehicle “travelling towards the collision area at a high rate of speed.”

“Both the officer and the individual from the collision jumped into the cruiser for safety before being struck by the other vehicle,” OPP Const. Michael Fathi said in a media release.

“Thankfully, nobody was hurt. Police suspected the driver of the vehicle that struck the police cruiser to be under the influence of alcohol.”

A photo posted on social media showed damage to the back of the OPP SUV, while the front of the other vehicle was badly damaged.

The driver is facing charges of operation while impaired, dangerous operation of a vehicle, ‘Young Person – Blood Alcohol Concentration above zero,’ failing to move over for an emergency vehicle, and having “care or control of a motor vehicle with unsealed container of liquor.”

Police say the accused had their licence suspended for 90 days and their vehicle was impounded for seven days.

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