A pair of local motorists found themselves with impaired driving charges before sunrise this weekend.
Thunder Bay Police Service officers responded to reports of a single motor-vehicle collision that occurred just before 6 a.m. on Saturday, December 16, on Copenhagen Road north of the Thunder Bay Expressway.
Emergency services responded and located a vehicle in the ditch. The driver declined medical attention.
The responding officer administered a roadside sobriety test, which the driver subsequently failed.
The driver was arrested and transported to the Balmoral Street station for further testing.
The 19-year-old is charged with operation of a motor vehicle while impaired, and operation of a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over 80.
Then, around 7 a.m. on Sunday, December 17, the Thunder Bay Police Service received reports of a male passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle in the 400 block of Cumberland Street North.
A paramedic with Superior North EMS was first to respond and located the vehicle, which was running. The paramedic attempted to turn off the vehicle, but the male drove away.
The vehicle was located a short time later in a parking lot in the 100 block of Clarke Street.
Police arrived and found the driver again asleep behind the wheel. Officers observed multiple signs of impairment and arrested the driver.
The 38-year-old is charged with operation of a motor vehicle while impaired, and operation of a motor vehicle while impaired with a blood alcohol concentration over 80.
In total, five people were arrested on impaired driving charges by the Thunder Bay Police Service on Saturday and Sunday.