OPP deal with five tragic deaths over Civic Day Long Weekend

AURORA, ON, Aug. 7, 2012 /CNW/ - Preliminary statistics indicate that a total of five people died on roads and waterways patrolled by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) this past Civic Holiday Long Weekend.

Throughout the weekend, the OPP ramped up enforcement right across the province, focusing on aggressive driving, driving while impaired, the wearing of seatbelts and driving while distracted. OPP officers were also highly visible patrolling waterways and trails, targeting those who were not in compliance with marine and trail laws.

Over the weekend, four persons were killed in three separate collisions on OPP-patrolled roads throughout the province and one person died in a marine incident.  

The OPP laid numerous charges for various offences over the long weekend, including 6559 for speeding, 96 street racing charges, 432 seatbelt charges, 131 charges for driving while impaired by drugs or having a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of above 0.08,  and 174 distracted driving charges were laid.  The OPP also issued 169 roadside license suspensions to drivers with a BAC in the warn range of 0.05 to 0.08.

Sadly, the tragic loss of life over the long weekend marks a 26 per cent increase in fatalities, bringing the number of deaths (within OPP jurisdiction) up to 211 compared to 168 this same time last year.

SOURCE: Ontario Provincial Police

Contacts by OPP Region:

Highway Safety Division:  
Sergeant Dave Woodford  
Phone: [phone]

Central Region:   
Sergeant Peter Leon  
Phone: [phone]

East Region:   
Sergeant Kristine Rae  
Phone: [phone]

Northeast Region:   
Inspector Mark Andrews  
Phone: [phone]

Northwest Region:   
Sergeant Shelley Garr  
Phone: [phone]

West Region:                               
Constable Aaron McPhail  
Phone: [phone]