Yesterday around 6pm, a vehicle was reported to be driving erratically on Interurban road.
Witnesses reported seeing a red 1994 Ford Explorer crossing the centre line on Interurban road travelling north bound. The Explorer was seen to nearly strike a vehicle travelling the other way head on. It then forced numerous vehicles to take evasive action to avoid a collision.
Traffic Safety Unit officers were dispatched and the vehicle was not stopped until it had reached the Brentwood Bay area. The driver was stopped near his residence with the assistance of the Sidney RCMP and Central Saanich Police Service.
When stopped the driver displayed symptoms of alcohol impairment. The driver was arrested for impaired driving and breath samples revealed double the legal limit.
The driver is a 51 year old resident of Central Saanich with a history of two prior impaired driving convictions. The driver had been suspended previously for three years by the Superintendant of Motor Vehicles and has not had a driver license since 2006.
Traffic Safety Unit investigators are seeking witnesses in the wake of this incident. Several vehicles driving in the opposite direction were forced to take evasive action. If you were in one of those vehicles please contact the Saanich Police at 250-475-4321 and ask to speak to Constable Jon Cawsey of the Traffic Safety Unit.