Police responded to a report of a highway services truck being driven into the ditch Aug. 21 at 3:30 p.m. north of Lacombe. Witnesses report a red car made an unsafe lane change, which forced the driver of the highway services truck to avoid a collision. There were no injuries and the car did not stop.
Excessive speed
The driver of a silver Acura must appear in court after photo radar showed his vehicle at a speed of 170 km/h Aug. 22. After stopping the southbound vehicle on Highway 2 near Highway 53, police also found the driver had no insurance. He was issued a ticket for speeding and charged with having no insurance.
Deer avoided
The driver of a Chevy Silverado was taken to the University of Alberta Hospital after avoiding a deer on Highway 2 near Matejka Road Aug. 27 at 6 a.m. The northbound vehicle veered off the road, crossed into the median, into opposing lanes and then into the opposite ditch in an attempt to avoid the deer.
Vehicle seized
Calls to police of an erratic driver Aug. 29 resulted in the seizure of the owner’s gold Chrysler 3000. It is reported the driver was swerving, crossing lanes and jerking the vehicle over the road. The person appeared slightly confused and was rambling to police.
The Saskatchewan resident had a suspended license and no Alberta driver’s license and was charged with driving while unauthorized and the Chrysler was seized for 30 days.
Speeding with drugs
The Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit stopped the driver of a Toyota Tundra for travelling at speeds in excess of 160 km/h Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. The officer noticed the smell of alcohol on the man’s breath and called RCMP to assist.
As the Mountie was coming on the scene he witnessed the man get out of his truck and throw a bag of marijuana under the pickup. The 31-year-old man from Northwest Territories also had a bottle of open liquor in the truck and was given a 24-hour suspension and charged with possession of a controlled substance and having open liquor in the vehicle.
Integrated traffic unit stats
The Ponoka Freeway Integrated Traffic Unit responded 33 calls over the long weekend. There were two impaired drivers and one 24-hour suspension.
There was one case where a suspected impaired driver fled from officers in a maroon two-door Chevy Blazer with Alberta license plate SYX 062 southbound on Highway 2 near Highway 53. Investigation of the license plate and truck show that it was stolen and the matter is still under investigation.
If you have information on any crime call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.