Saanich, BC – In the early hours of July 14th, 2017, members of Saanich Police Patrol Section were conducting focused traffic enforcement along the Trans-Canada Highway around the McKenzie Avenue overpass construction zone. Several drivers were ticketed at speeds up to and including 40 kph over the limit at increased fines due to the marked roadway construction zone.
At one point, Victoria Police relayed a citizen’s report of a possible impaired driver headed toward Saanich. SPD officers intercepted the vehicle as it travelled east on the Trans-Canada Hwy. The driver was showing signs of being impaired, and an investigation was initiated by two of the officers.
The officers’ marked police vehicles were stopped with emergency lights flashing when a second vehicle headed east across McKenzie Avenue was measured as over the speed limit and was driving without lights on. As officers went to pull the second vehicle over, that vehicle collided with one of the parked police vehicles of the officers investigating the impaired driver.
Officers quickly gathered that the second driver was intoxicated by alcohol, and she was arrested at the scene for impaired driving.
Facing criminal impaired driving charges is a 31-year-old female resident of Saanich, who was also served violation tickets for Motor Vehicle Act offences – including ‘drive contrary to restriction’ as she is in possession of a Class 7 (learner’s) driver’s license.
The first driver was breath-tested roadside and provided a ‘FAIL’ result. That driver was served an immediate roadside prohibition from driving for 90 days and their vehicle was impounded for 30 days.
The officers, drivers, and passengers were luckily not hurt in the collision, but the incident could have easily resulted in serious – or perhaps fatal – injuries.
Cst. Graham Walker #310
17-16175 refers