Tuesday, January 18, 2005

19 Motor Vehicle Collisions Reported

Once again the Sault Ste Marie Police Service would like to remind motorist to slow down. Winter is upon us and the roads are not bare. In the last 24-hour period City Police investigated 19 motor vehicle collisions.

Male Charged With Impaired Driving

48-year old Paul Smith of 1564 Third Avenue was arrested shortly after 10:30 pm last evening after his car struck a parked pickup truck in front of a home in the 200 block of Huron Street. The accused then left the scene of the accident. Both vehicles received moderate damage. A description of the accused vehicle was provided to officers who stopped it at Old Garden River Road and Second Line East. Mr. Smith showed obvious signs of impairment. When officers searched the accused they found a small quantity of cannabis resin in his belongings. Mr. Smith has been charged with one count of fail to remain at an accident, one count of impaired driving, one count of consume over the legal limit and one count of possession of a controlled drug or substance. He will appear in court on February 21st.

Male Charged With Impaired Driving

Approximately 20 minutes later City Police responded to another motor vehicle collision involving another impaired driver. 35-year old Steven Francis of 231 Sydenham Road was driving his van westbound on Wellington Street West when he ran into the rear of a car stopped in front of him at Lyons Avenue. The car struck by Mr. Francis, than struck the rear end of a pickup truck that was ahead of the car. The damage to the three vehicles is described as moderate and no one was injured. The accused showed obvious signs of impairment and was subsequently arrested. Mr. Francis has been charged with one count of consume over the legal limit and one count of impaired driving. He will also appear in court on February 21st.

Break and Enter

Yesterday Police received one report of a break and enter. Last evening a homeowner in the 100 block of Spadina Avenue reported that their residence had been entered. It is unknown at this time if anything was taken.

City Bus Collision

Yesterday afternoon City Police attended at the intersection of Wilcox Street and Maple Street for an accident involving a city bus and a car. Stafie Ochman of 52 Kent Avenue was traveling southbound on Maple Street and stopped for the stop sign but then proceeded through. A city bus operated by Henry Tulonen of 8 Gordon Avenue was driving the bus eastbound on Wilcox Avenue when the Ochman car drove in front of the bus. Mrs. Ochman has been charged under the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario with one count of fail to yield to through traffic. Mrs. Ochman received non-life threatening injuries but did not require medial treatment at the time of the incident. None of the persons on the bus were injured.