Kashabowie, ON – On October 10, 2024, a head-on collision on Highway 11 west of Kashabowie resulted in criminal charges for an impaired driver.
At approximately 7:30 pm, Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) from Atikokan and Shabaqua responded to the accident near Huronian Lake. A pick-up truck collided with a passenger car, and one occupant was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation determined that the driver of the pick-up truck, 36-year-old Kyle Bates from Atikokan, crossed into oncoming traffic while impaired by drugs. Bates was arrested on-site and taken to Atikokan, where further testing by a Drug Recognition Expert confirmed the impairment.
Bates has been charged with impaired operation and dangerous driving. His license has been suspended for 90 days, and his vehicle impounded for seven days. He is set to appear in the Thunder Bay Ontario Court of Justice on November 27, 2024.
Authorities remind the public of the rising trend in drug-impaired collisions, which have doubled over the past five years. OPP encourages reporting any suspected impaired drivers.
