Frontline officers working out of York Regional Police #5 District have charged a 45-year-old man with impaired operation and other driving-related offences after two collisions occurred in Markham, one of which resulted in injuries to a nine-year-old child at a playground.
On May 14 at 8:35 p.m., York Regional Police were called regarding a child who had been injured after a vehicle drove onto a school playground on Becket Avenue. A suspect operating a black Mitsubishi SUV reportedly drove onto the property at a high rate of speed and crashed through a gate of a children’s playground, striking a nine-year-old child. The suspect left the scene, driving around the property at a high rate of speed without making any attempt to stop, exchange information or help.
The child was treated for minor injuries by York Region Paramedic Services and taken to hospital as a precaution.
At 9:05 p.m., the police received another call about the same suspect vehicle which reportedly struck a tree on a residential lawn on Winston Castle Drive in Markham. First responders found a male driver unconscious behind the wheel of the suspect vehicle with the engine revving. The vehicle had extensive damage and the suspect was extracted, taken into custody and brought to the hospital where he blew significantly over the legal limit.
The 45-year-old man from Toronto has been charged with failing to stop after accident, dangerous operation and impaired operation.
As per Ontario law, anyone charged with impaired driving has their driver’s licence immediately suspended for 90 days and has their involved vehicle impounded for seven days.
Impaired driving continues to be an unacceptable and avoidable problem. York Regional Police remains firmly committed to doing all it can to tackle this issue. If you see an impaired driver, call 9-1-1 right away as part of the Safe Roads: Your Call program. Day and night, officers are patrolling the roads, conducting spot checks and are available to respond. Working together, we can make our roads safer.
Information can be provided to the police by calling 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7541. Alternatively, information may also be given anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or going online at www.1800222tips.com.
