Several police converged on a Highway 1 off-ramp Saturday after a driver that RCMP alleged was impaired crashed into a rock wall while travelling the wrong way on the ramp.
The crash occurred on the Highway 1 exit at Millstream Road. Witness Kim Jordison said she was travelling up the exit when the vehicle — a green truck, according to her — approached, heading down the ramp.
“It was scary,” Jordison recalled.
The truck crashed into the wall as the two vehicles passed, and she said she was able to see police pull the driver out of the truck from her rear-view mirror.
No one was hit, according to West Shore RCMP.
Police said witnesses reported a green Ford F350 truck that was driving erratically and struck the highway median several times. When officers attempted to pull the suspect over, the driver fled in his vehicle from police.
The driver, who police said was a prohibited driver due to past impaired driving issues, was arrested on scene. He sustained a minor cut to his nose, but was treated at the station.
Joridson said she believes the incident could have been much worse — especially if the driver had travelled further down the ramp.
“He could have potentially hit somebody. There could have been a fatal accident there, too, because it wasn’t slow either. He was driving quite fast down there,” Jordison said. “It could have been worse.”
The off-ramp was closed as officers dealt with the driver, which left traffic affected for a short period of time. Several police vehicles were on scene and West Shore Towing picked up the driver’s car.
The 55-year-old male driver of the Ford F350, who’s since been charged with impaired driving, will be held in custody until he is brought before a judge, according to police. He is under investigation for impaired driving, dangerous driving and flight from police.
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