**** RCMP Release
Lunenburg District RCMP arrests man for impaired driving after striking police vehicle during traffic stop
Lunenburg District RCMP arrested a man for driving-related offences after observing erratic and unsafe actions on the road including striking a police vehicle.
On October 30 at approximately 7:10 p.m., an RCMP officer was driving eastbound in a marked police vehicle on Hwy. 3 when a vehicle pulled out abruptly from the left side of the road without yielding to the marked police car, which had the right of way. The officer then observed that the car, a Volkswagen Jetta, was swerving on the road, hitting the right shoulder and crossing the centre line.
When the officer attempted a traffic stop, the Jetta did not stop and accelerated away from the police vehicle. In the interest of public safety, the officer did not pursue the car but shared the vehicle description and direction of travel with other officers in the area.
Officers then located the car on Hwy. 103, and observed it pull over to the shoulder of the road. When an officer stopped a second marked police vehicle in front of the Jetta, the driver accelerated forward slowly and struck the parked police car.
The driver and passenger of the Jetta were then safely arrested. At the time of the arrest, officers observed open alcohol in the vehicle and suspected that the driver was impaired by alcohol. The driver provided a roadside breath sample into an approved screening device which resulted in a “fail.”
The driver, a 21-year-old Springfield man, was later released by police pending a future court appearance. He will face driving-related Criminal Code charges and was issued several summary offence tickets under the Nova Scotia Traffic Safety Act.
The passenger was released without charges.
Impaired driving is an emergency. If you spot a suspected impaired driver on the road, call police and provide as much information as possible, including:
The location and direction of travel
The licence plate number, and the make, model, and colour of the vehicle
A description of the driver
