A 39-year-old Lourdes man did not get very far after he fled from Bay St. George RCMP on his all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on December 8, 2020. He was located a short time later and was arrested for impaired driving.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., an officer on patrol in Lourdes observed an ATV operating without tail lights and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled down a path on the ATV and then took off on foot through the woods.
The RCMP officer and an officer with Fish and Wildlife Enforcement, who were working together in the area, engaged in a foot pursuit and located the driver. He showed signs of impairment and failed a roadside breath test. He was arrested for impaired driving and was transported to the detachment where he provided breath samples that were nearly three times the legal limit.
The ATV was seized and impounded. The driver was issued a driving licence suspension and now faces charges of impaired driving and flight from police. He was released from custody and is set to attend court on February 15, 2021.
Impairment played a significant role in off-road vehicle fatalities in the province this year; it was a suspected factor in 10 of the 17 deaths. RCMP NL strongly encourages operators to avoid driving after alcohol/drug consumption. Driving while impaired is a choice a driver makes which can have deadly consequences. Those left behind after the loss of a loved one do not get a choice.