Passing out behind the wheel has landed one Alberta man behind bars.
Early Monday morning, an astute West Kelowna resident noticed a man passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in the middle of the left lane of Highway 97 South, near Hudson Road.
West Kelowna RCMP were called at 2:42 a.m. and when officers arrived, police found both the man in the vehicle and quantities of suspected cocaine and methamphetamine consistent with drug trafficking.
“A passing motorist stopped to check on the male driver of the black Ford Escort, who was found passed out behind the wheel. The bystander immediately called police and began to direct highway traffic around the Ford which was now a serious traffic hazard,” explains Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.
“Emergency crews attended and managed to rouse the man, who was subsequently found to be in possession of illegal drugs.”
In total, police seized more than 500 grams of suspected methamphetamine and over 300 grams of suspected cocaine.
The man was positively identified by police as a 49-year-old Alberta man.
O’Donaghey says he faces several potential charges. He was later released from police custody and is expected back in court May 20, 2017.
“The RCMP would like to encourage the public to continue to report suspicious persons, vehicles and situations to their local police,” says O’Donaghey.
“Often these types of complaints can prevent crimes from being committed, result in the seizure of illegal substances or property obtained by crime, or at times culminate in the arrest of a wanted person.”
