Monday, December 10, 2007

Snowmobiler spends unexpected night in the bush

HEYDEN, ON - A 41-year-old Heyden man spent the night in the bush after his snow machine broke down on him last night.

At about 7:30 a.m. this morning, family members of the man woke up to find that he had not been home all night.

The advised police that the man often likes to take rides at night from Heyden to the Searchmont area but had always come home.

Members of the Sault Ste. Marie OPP, Sault Search and Rescue and a friend of the family started a search concentrating in the area leading to the Searchmont area.

At about 10 a.m. the man was located walking on a trail.

The investigation has revealed that his snow machine broke down sometime around 11 p.m. last night.

At sometime during the night the man started walking out of the bush using the trail left behind by the machine.

He was located, on the trail, about 20 kilometres from his machine with about 10-15 kilometres left to go until he reached the roadway.

Rescue personnel would like to remind snowmobilers to make sure they are prepared for long unexpected stays in the bush.

Pack an emergency kit with enough provisions to keep you alive until search and rescue personnel are able to locate you.

AND NOW ANOTHER LOW BLOW BY THIEVES

(Goulais River, Ont.) A Sault Ste Marie man found out last night just how low thieves area able to stoop when it comes to stealing.

Last night a Sault Ste Marie man was traveling on Bellevue Valley Road in Goulais River when his truck ran out of gas. He called a friend to assist him. The friend arrived at the vehicle and picked the victim up. They were gone for less than 45 minutes to get gas.

When they returned he found that thieves had stolen his snow machine off the back of his pick up truck. The snow machine was locked onto the pick up truck with a cable. Not being satisfied with just ripping off the snow machine, this set of thieves also took the tail gate off the pick up truck.

Police believe that there was more than one person involved in the theft and that another pick up truck was used to make their escape. Stolen is a 2004 Artic Cat snow machine valued at about $4000.00. If you live near Bellevue Valley or were driving in the area last night and saw anything that may be connected to this theft, please call the police or Crime Stoppers.

STOLEN MINI VAN

(Batchewana First Nation, Ont.) The Batchewana First Nation Police are investigating the theft of a mini van from the parking lot of the Rankin Arena.

Just after midnight this morning the owner of the van came out of the arena to find the van gone. Apparently the van was locked and a security device was placed on the steering wheel of the van.

Stolen is a 1995 Green Dodge Mini Van.

DRIVER CHARGED IN NORTH HIGHWAY CRASH

(Mamainse Harbour, Ont.) A Calgary man is spending an extra day in Sault Ste Marie after he totaled his car yesterday morning.

At about 6:00 a.m. yesterday the man was traveling north on Hwy 17 in the area of Mamainse Harbour. He lost control of his car and the vehicle went off the road and struck a rock cut.

He was not injured in the crash but a tow truck was needed to tow the vehicle away. Forty seven (47) year old Mohammad KHAN of Calgary has been charged with Failing To Drive In Marked Lane contrary to the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario.

I GUESS HE HAS NEVER HEARD OF “911”

(Goulais River, On) Another western Canada man experienced some difficulty keeping his vehicle on the roadway late Friday night.

Sometime during the darkened hours of Friday night and Saturday morning a man went off the roadway and snapped a hydro pole on an isolated section of Old Goulais Bay Road, in Goulais River.

He claims to have gone to a neighbouring house but no one was there. It wasn’t until Saturday morning, when Great Lakes Power was notified of the broken pole that the man returned to his car and notified police of his mishap and negligence in remembering to call someone about the broken pole.

The driver claims to have bumped his head in the crash. The investigation is still ongoing and charges are pending.

HEY—WHO MOVED THE HIGHWAY ??

(Echo Bay, Ont.) A Thunder Bay man found out the hard way that some highways do change in Northern Ontario.

Yesterday at about 2:00 p.m. a tractor trailer was traveling on Hwy 17B in Echo Bay approaching the “T” intersection of Bar River Road and Hwy 17B. The driver did not see the sign that warned of a new stop sign ahead and he did not see the new stop sign at the intersection.

By the time he realized that this was no longer the temporary detour around the new four lane section, it was too late. His truck went through the intersection and into the ditch on Bar River Road. A large tow truck was needed to get the truck and trailer out of the ditch. ‘

Thirty one year old Kris VANDERZWAGG of Thunder Bay was charged with Failing To Stop For A Stop Sign under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario. He was not injured in the crash.

ANOTHER WAY TO GET CAUGHT DRINKING AND DRIVING

(Sault Ste Marie, Ont.) An Elliot Lake man found a surefire way to attract the complete attention of the police.

This morning at about 2:30 a.m. an officer with the Sault Ste Marie OPP detachment was traveling eastbound on Trunk Road in front of the Husky Truck Stop headed to Echo Bay. As the officer approached the Husky Station a pick up truck turned off Trunk Road into the Husky right in front of the cruiser. The officer had to slam on the brakes and skid into the Husky entrance to avoid a collision with the pick up.

A conversation with the driver of the pick up soon revealed that he had been drinking. The man was returned to the police station where further testing revealed that he was more than twice over the legal limit to be driving.

Fifty year old Wayne CADDEL of Elliot Lake, Ontario has been charged with Driving While Over The Legal Limit of .08 Contrary to the Criminal Code. He was asked to have someone else drive him back to Sault Ste Marie Court on Feb 4, 2008 because his licence has been suspended for ninety days.