(OTTAWA, ON) – There was a major traffic safety initiative in Ottawa Friday night, which included support from the sky.
Members of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Highway Safety Division and Ottawa OPP Detachment joined forces with an aircraft from OPP Aviation Services to target dangerous driving. One incident saw two officers struck by a fleeing vehicle.
A group of drivers, gathered in the Alti Place area of Ottawa, near Highway 416, had their plans for illegal racing shutdown. Officers converged on the area, while the OPP plane circled above. When two vehicles started street-racing, officers attempted to stop them. One vehicle stopped, while the other struck two OPP officers and fled. The officers were not seriously hurt, and the aircraft was able to track the fleeing vehicle until other officers could successfully stop it and arrest the driver.
Pramod PERSAD, age 19 of Kanata has been charged under the Criminal Code, Highway Traffic and Cannabis Control Act with:
- Assaulting a police officer with a weapon – two counts
- Flight from a peace officer
- Dangerous operation
- Race a vehicle
- Stunt driving
- Driving with cannabis readily available
- Driving without two licence plates
- Obstructing a licence plate
- Colour coating obscuring interior (window tint was too dark)
The other driver, who did stop, also faces Highway Traffic Act charges.
In another incident, officers observed two motorcycles driving at high speeds on Highway 417 and Highway 416. The OPP aircraft tracked them, recording speeds up to 230 km/h. The plane followed them off the highway and through Barrhaven, where they could be seen lane splitting, weaving through traffic and running red lights. One motorcycle was successfully tracked to a residence in Barrhaven. 20-year-old Anthony NAJM of Ottawa was arrested and charged under the Criminal Code, Highway Traffic Act and Compulsory Automobile Insurance Act with:
- Dangerous driving
- Stunt driving
- Speeding
- No insurance
- Use a licence plate not authorized
- Driving a motorcycle with no motorcycle licence
Officers on the ground were busy, even without support from above:
- A 17-year-old G2 driver was caught traveling 185 km/h in a 100 km/h zone on Highway 417. They were charged with stunt driving. Vehicle was impounded, licence suspended and a date in court.
- A 37-year-old driver was stopped for traveling at 155 km/h in a 100 km/h on Highway 417 and was also charged for improper use of an HOV lane. Vehicle was impounded, licence suspended and a date in court.
“This was an outstanding example of teamwork, with a goal of making our highways and streets safer. This involved not only officers on the ground and in the air, but also excellent work by our OPP Communications Centre professionals.”