(CENTRAL HURON, ON) – A Novice driver from Grand Bend is facing charges after he crashed his vehicle this past weekend north of Bayfield.
At approximately 3:00 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2020 Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers were dispatched to attend a single motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Bayfield Road and Bluewater Veteran’s Highway.
Shortly thereafter an officer arrived on scene and spoke with the uninjured driver and passenger. While speaking with the driver the officer noted the driver was displaying signs of impairment through a drug. As a result the driver was placed under arrest for impaired operation and a search was conducted. Upon searching the vehicle police located a quantity of cannabis that was readily available to the driver.
The driver was then transported to the Petrolia OPP Detachment for an evaluation conducted by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE). At the end of the evaluation the DRE determined the driver was indeed impaired by a drug.
Eric COONAN, 27 years of age, from Grand Bend has been charged with Impaired Operation, Drive Motor Vehicle With Cannabis Readily Available & Novice Driver – Presence of Drug in System. The accused has since been released from custody with a court appearance scheduled for June 29, 2020 at the Ontario Court of Justice – Goderich. His driver’s licence has been suspended for an automatic 90 days and his motor vehicle has been impounded for seven days.