Driver claims fatigue to blame for bad driving before overdose
Posted November 10, 2017 11:07 am.
Last Updated November 10, 2017 2:59 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DELTA (NEWS 1130) – Delta police are issuing another warning about the dangers of impaired driving involving drugs, after a driver suffered an overdose behind the wheel.
Police say they pulled over a man who was driving northbound in the southbound lanes of 120th Street around 9 p.m.
“The driver initially offered a very plausible explanation for this driving pattern, indicating he’d had a long day at work and was very tired and was on his way home,” Sharlene Brooks with Delta Police says.
She explains the officer went to write up a violation ticket based on the dangers this driving pattern presented to everyone on the roadway. But when the officer returned to the car to serve the ticket, the driver was slumped over the wheel, unresponsive and showing signs of an overdose.
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The officer administered Naloxone and the driver immediately became more responsive. An ambulance was called and the driver was taken to hospital for overdose treatment. “This really is an example of the dangers of impaired driving that’s not limited to simply alcohol-related impairment but now we are dealing with more and more drug related impairment as well.”
Brooks adds police were able to avoid a tragic and possibly event fatal situation. “It’s very concerning because fortunately we had a driving pattern. Fortunately one of our officers just happened to be at the right place at the right time and make that observation and stop that vehicle. Had we not been in that area, it could have had a very different outcome.”
Though officers are starting to see drug-related impairments more often, Brooks says it’s uncommon to run into a situation like this one.
“I have to say, this particular type of situation where we’re dealing with someone overdosing behind the wheel, while we’re dealing with them, is not that common at this point in time, but obviously we’re good and likely prepared to see this a little bit more, which is extremely unfortunate and presents a significant amount of risk to our public.”
The driver was issued a 24 hour driving prohibition and the Delta Police are continuing with their investigation of impaired driving.
