Tuesday, January 6, 2009

OPP FESTIVE RIDE RESULTS

(Sault Ste. Marie, ON.) –OPP Festive RIDE Campaign results are in. This year’s 5 week campaign which ran from November 28th, 2008 to January 2nd 2009 saw 845,915 vehicles checked in the Province of Ontario with 758 Twelve Hour Driver’s Licence Suspensions issued. 296 drivers were charged with either Impaired Driving, Driving with over 80 mgs. Of Alcohol or Refusing to Provide a Breath Sample.

There were 8,579 motor vehicle collisions Province-wide. 27 of those collisions were fatal.

Locally, Sault Ste. Marie Detachment OPP officer’s checked 4,292 vehicles, issued 3
Twelve hour suspensions and charged 2 driver’s with Impaired Driving.

Motor vehicle collisions were up over 50% from last year with 36 collisions investigated. Of those collisions, 6 involved personal injury and 30 involved property damage to vehicles.

Seatbelt usage, Impaired Driving and Aggressive driving are the three main causes of motor vehicles fatalities and serious personal injury to both driver’s and passengers.

The Festive RIDE Campaign is over; however, the OPP is committed to ensuring public safety on Ontario Highways all year long.

OPP Investigate Fatal Snowmobile Collision

(Wawa, Ontario): On Sunday the 4th of January/2009 at approximately 10:00 pm The Superior East OPP responded to a single snowmobile collision located on the Old A.C.R rail bed in the Lendrum Township within the Michipicoten First Nation Territory. Preliminary investigation indicates that the snowmachine and its riders plunged down an embankment where one of the riders sustained fatal injuries.

The Post Mortem has been scheduled for January 6th in Sault Ste Marie. The name of the deceased and driver of the snowmachine was 51 year old Donald Swanson of Michipicoten First Nation.
The investigation is continuing to determine the cause.

Road Closure Advisory

(Wawa, ON.) – Hwy 17 from Wawa to Batchawana Bay

The Ontario Provincial Police advise the public of the following road closure.

Detachment area: Wawa

Time of road closure: 05 Jan 2009 at 4:30pm

Reason for the closure: poor weather and visibility – tractor trailer jack knifed on the highway

Detour:

Estimated duration of closure: unknown – until weather improves

Time road reopened: 4:07 a.m.