On September 2, 2024, at approximately 6:30 p.m., Upper Ottawa Valley OPP officers responded to a single-vehicle collision on Highway 17 in Head, Clara and Maria Township. The eastbound vehicle lost control and entered the ditch. Fortunately, the driver was not injured.
During the investigation, police used a Roadside Screening Device and further tests were conducted at the detachment. Open alcohol was also found in the vehicle.
As a result, 41-year-old Jesse Gagnon of Deep River has been charged with multiple offences, including impaired operation of a motor vehicle, driving with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 mg, and driving with an open container of liquor. Additionally, Gagnon faces charges for driving without a valid licence.
The accused’s driver’s licence has been suspended for 90 days, and the vehicle was impounded for seven days. Gagnon has been released and is scheduled to appear in the Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on October 1, 2024.
(Written by: Emma Butler)