Northwestern Ont. man charged with drug-impaired driving in head-on crash

A 36-year-old man is charged with drug-impaired and dangerous driving after a head-on crash in northwest Ontario last Thursday.

Police from the Atikokan and Shabaqua detachments were called to the scene on Highway 11 near Huronian Lake around 7:30 p.m. Oct. 10, Ontario Provincial Police said in a news release.

Silver passenger car after a head-on collision with pickup truck on Highway 11 near Kashabowie. Oct. 10/24 (Ontario Provincial Police)

The two-vehicle crash involved a pickup truck and passenger car west of Kashabowie, more than 100 kilometres west of Thunder Bay.

"One vehicle passenger was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries," OPP said.

"Investigation revealed the at-fault driver crossed into oncoming traffic and was impaired by drug. The driver was arrested at the scene and transported to a drug recognition expert in Atikokan where additional testing was completed by way of demand."

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In addition to the criminal charges, the Atikokan man has had his driver's licence suspended for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for seven.

"Drug-involved collisions have been steadily increasing and have more than doubled over the past five years," OPP said.

"While we have more officers trained and equipped to detect drug impairment in drivers, we continue to encourage Ontarians to report drivers they suspect of being impaired, be it alcohol, or any type of drug."

The suspect was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court in Thunder Bay on Nov. 27.