An 18-year-old driver who crashed into a power pole in Metchosin on Monday was suspected by police to be under the influence of drugs and had his vehicle impounded and licence suspended for 24 hours.
The crash happened at about 6:40 a.m. near the 4200-block of Metchosin Road. Several people reported erratic driving to police, including one driver who reported a man who appeared to be falling asleep at the wheel while operating a black Chevrolet Monte Carlo sedan
West Shore RCMP conducted an impaired-driving investigation, which included an examination of the driver by a drug recognition expert who determined the driver was exhibiting symptoms of being impaired by drugs.
The driver was co-operative with police and provided a urine sample. Drug-impaired driving charges are expected to be forthcoming pending results from the urine analysis, said RCMP.
The driver and his passenger received only minor injuries in the crash. Paramedics and the Metchosin Fire Department also attended the scene.
Both the driver and passenger of the vehicle are lucky that they were not seriously injured. We want to thank the multiple callers who reported this to police right away,
said Cpl. Nancy Saggar of the West Shore RCMP.
