A 62-year-old man from Elliot Lake is facing multiple charges after a crash on Highway 108 early Wednesday morning that was followed by confrontations with police, paramedics, and hospital staff.
Ontario Provincial Police say the incident began around 12:45 a.m. Wednesday when they received a report about an impaired driver whose pickup truck had crashed, leaving him lying in the middle of the highway. When officers arrived, they found the man walking in the southbound lane while the person who reported the incident followed behind.
Police say the man tried to escape on foot after noticing the officers, attempting to push through a snowbank and deep snow before becoming stuck. Officers described him as uncooperative and unwilling to return to the roadway or communicate with them.
When police attempted to arrest him, the situation escalated and the man allegedly became aggressive toward officers. After being taken into custody, paramedics transported him to hospital as a precaution.
Authorities say his aggressive behaviour continued during the ambulance ride and at the hospital, where he allegedly acted aggressively toward paramedics as well as medical staff, including nurses and doctors.
Following the incident, the man was charged with impaired driving, refusing to comply with a demand, careless driving, failing to remain at the scene, and not wearing a seatbelt. Additional charges include obstructing a peace officer, resisting arrest, and assaulting a police officer.
Police said the pickup truck involved in the crash was towed and impounded for seven days at the owner’s expense. The driver’s licence was also automatically suspended for 90 days under provincial regulations.
The accused is scheduled to appear in court in Elliot Lake on April 9.