Thunder Bay Police Service officers were dispatched to the corner of Alexandra Street and Southern Avenue just after 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 29 following reports of a two-vehicle collision.
As an officer was approaching the scene they observed a red sedan driving away from the collision. Police noticed signs the vehicle had been involved in a recent collision and officers suspected the motorist was in the process of fleeing the scene.
Police stopped the motorist and approached.
During their investigation, officers located paraphernalia consistent with crack cocaine use in the motorist’s vehicle, and observed signs that the driver was possibly impaired by drug.
A roadside Standardized Field Sobriety Test was conducted, the results of which led police to suspect the driver was impaired by drug. The driver was placed under arrest and transported to the Thunder Bay Police Service headquarters for further evaluation.
An examination by a Drug Recognition Expert confirmed the motorist was impaired by drug.
A 30-year-old Thunder Bay man is charged with Operation of a Motor Vehicle While Impaired by Drug, and Failure to Stop After Accident.
He has been released from custody with a future appearance date. His identity is being withheld pending the formal swearing in of his charges.