The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) continue their 2024 Festive R.I.D.E. (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) campaign, which started on November 21 and will run until January 1. Between December 5 and December 11, officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley Detachment conducted 12 RIDE checks, with no impaired driving or over-80mg charges reported during these checks. Despite this, five drivers were charged with impaired driving-related offenses.
One significant incident occurred on December 5, when OPP responded to a collision on Highway 60 in Algonquin Park. A 29-year-old driver, Michael Ashawasega, was charged with drug impairment, possession of fentanyl for trafficking, and several other offenses.
On December 7, a 15-year-old driver from Cornwall was arrested after a collision on Highway 17 near Beladair Road. The teen was charged with multiple offenses, including drug impairment and possession of cannabis. They were released to a family member and will appear in Youth Court.
Other arrests included a 50-year-old driver from Oakville, charged with impaired driving on December 7, and a 52-year-old from Milton, charged on December 10. Both drivers had their licenses suspended for 90 days, and their vehicles were impounded.
The OPP’s R.I.D.E. campaign aims to reduce impaired driving during the holiday season, ensuring the safety of all road users.
(Written by: Emma Butler)
