(OPP photo)
The Upper Ottawa Valley (UOV) Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) has recently charged two drivers with impaired driving following separate incidents in Pembroke and Laurentian Valley Township.
On February 22, at approximately 3:30 a.m., OPP officers conducted a traffic stop on Pembroke Street West in the City of Pembroke. During the stop, a Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) was administered, followed by further testing conducted by a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) officer at the detachment. As a result of the investigation, 28-year-old Sarah Proksch of Pembroke was charged with operation while impaired by drugs and driving while under suspension.
The following day, on February 23, at approximately 1:10 a.m., OPP responded to a single-vehicle collision on Saars Lane in Laurentian Valley Township. The investigation revealed that the vehicle had left the roadway and entered a ditch, though no injuries were reported. A Standard Field Sobriety Test (SFST) was conducted at the scene, and further testing was done at the detachment. As a result, 37-year-old Chandell Reynolds of Oshawa was charged with operation while impaired by both drugs and alcohol, operation while impaired by blood alcohol concentration over 80 mg, and possessing more than one driver’s licence.
Both individuals have had their driver’s licences suspended for 90 days, and their vehicles were towed and impounded for seven days. These incidents highlight the ongoing efforts of the OPP to combat impaired driving in the region and ensure the safety of all road users.
(Written by: Emma Butler)