NEWS RELEASE
SOUTH SIMCOE POLICE SERVICE
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Two drivers were charged with impaired and dangerous driving offences following separate fail to remain collisions just hours apart.
On Saturday, April 17, 2021 at 3:35 p.m., South Simcoe Police Service officers were notified about a vehicle involved in a fail to remain collision in Barrie.
The suspect vehicle was last seen exiting Highway 400 southbound at County Road 88 in Bradford. Police located the vehicle and observed it was driving erratically.
A vehicle stop was conducted in the Sideroad 10 and Line 5 area. The driver was arrested and transported to South Division.
As a result of the investigation, 29-year-old Joshua Chica of New Tecumseth was charged with operation While impaired, operation while impaired – excess blood alcohol, dangerous operation and operate motor vehicle with open liquor. His licence was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle impounded for seven days.
At approximately 7:10 p.m., South Simcoe Police Service officers were dispatched to the area of Marshview Boulevard and Morris Road in Bradford for a vehicle that was in the ditch. Callers reported that the vehicle had been speeding and driving erratically before entering the ditch. When police arrived, the vehicle was gone. With the help of a citizen at the scene, police subsequently located the driver and the vehicle at a nearby property. The man was arrested and transported to South Division.
As a result of the investigation, 62-year-old Bela Varga of Bradford was charged with operation while impaired, operation while impaired – excess blood alcohol, dangerous operation and failure to stop after accident. His licence was suspended for 90 days and his vehicle impounded for seven days.
Collisions involving alcohol and/or drugs are a leading criminal cause of death in Canada. Every day, on average, up to four Canadians are killed and many more are injured in alcohol and/or drug-related motor vehicle crashes. Thank you to all the citizens who call to report suspected impaired drivers. Our roads are safer when we work together.
From Friday, April 16, 2021, to Monday, April 19, 2021, South Simcoe Police Service officers responded to 219 calls for service.
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