A Hamilton man with “a history of impaired driving convictions” blew three times the legal blood-alcohol limit after he was involved in a car crash Friday, police say.
At around 7:10 p.m., emergency crews responded to calls about a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Limeridge Road and Mountain Brow Boulevard on the East Mountain, said Hamilton police Staff Sgt. Martin Schulenberg.
Paramedics took one of the drivers, a 34-year-old man, to hospital with minor injuries.
The other driver “was found to be impaired” and was taken into custody, Schulenberg said.
He said the suspect blew more than three times the legal blood-alcohol limit in a breathalyzer test.
Police charged a 53-year-old Hamilton man with impaired driving and held him for a bail hearing “based on [his] driving history,” said Schulenberg.
“This driver has a history of impaired driving convictions.”
Prevention
The staff sergeant stressed that driving drunk shows a “complete disregard for the safety of those around you” and gave a series of tips on how to keep impaired drivers off the road.
First, he recommended that people who are planning to drink alcohol — regardless of the amount — plan not to drive home.
“People don’t seem to be able to assess what’s safe,” Schulenberg said.
And if you know that a friend or family member has been drinking, “Do the responsible thing and provide alternative travel arrangements,” he said.
Finally, Schulenberg asked members of the public to call 911 if they suspect they see an impaired driver on the road.
“It’s a message that we just can't get out enough.”