A driver in Nanaimo faces an impaired driving charge and a charge for driving while prohibited after a collision downtown yesterday afternoon.
According to an RCMP press release, just before 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1, police responded to multiple 911 calls about three argumentative adults in the area of Promenade Drive and Front Street.
As officers arrived on scene, a vehicle associated to the disturbance departed, but was seen stopped at the intersection of Commercial Street and Terminal Avenue. One of the officers, who recognized the driver from prior interactions, activated her vehicle’s emergency equipment and was turning it around when the suspect vehicle allegedly sped away northbound on Terminal Avenue.
About a minute later, the car crashed into a lamp standard and road sign at the Terminal Avenue-Campbell Street intersection.
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Nanaimo Fire Rescue, B.C. Ambulance and a number of RCMP members attended the crash scene where the three occupants’ medical conditions were assessed and none were found to be injured, but the driver allegedly displayed symptoms of alcohol impairment and was arrested for impaired driving and for an outstanding warrant for driving while prohibited to do so. One of her male passengers was also arrested for being drunk in public and the the other passenger was released without charges.
The Campbell Street section of the intersection was closed while the wreckage was cleared Tuesday evening and again Wednesday morning while repair technician replaced the lamp standard and signs.
The driver was taken to Nanaimo RCMP detachment where she provided two breath samples, both of which, the release noted, were over the legal limit and she was held in custody to appear in provincial court in Nanaimo on Wednesday to face the prohibited driving charge.
Investigators will also be forwarding charges for approval from the Crown for driving with blood alcohol content over the legal limit and flight from police.
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