A drunk driver smashed in to a parked Saanich Police car early at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday morning on the Trans-Canada Highway near the McKenzie Avenue overpass construction.
It was the second of two drunk drivers Saanich Police intercepted in a matter of minutes.
A 31-year-old Saanich woman with a learner’s license is now facing criminal impaired driving charges and several violation tickets.
Just prior to the incident, Saanich Police was conducting traffic enforcement along the Trans-Canada Highway around the McKenzie Avenue overpass construction zone and had ticketed several drivers for speeds up to and including 40 kph over the construction zone speed limit.
At about 2:30 a.m., Victoria Police relayed a report of a possible impaired driver headed toward Saanich, said Const. Graham Walker.
“[Saanich Police] officers intercepted the vehicle as it travelled east [on the highway],” Walker said. “The driver [showed] signs of being impaired, and an investigation was initiated by two of the officers.”
Moments later the second vehicle approached eastbound on McKenzie Avenue well over the speed limit and without lights on. As officers went to pull the second vehicle over, it collided with one of the parked police vehicles of the officers investigating the impaired driver.
“The woman was actually pulled over when she pulled back out onto the highway and struck the police car,” said Det. Const. Damian Kowalewich.
The driver was then pulled over once again, by Helmcken. Officers quickly gathered that the second driver was intoxicated by alcohol, and she was arrested at the scene for impaired driving. She blew twice over the legal blood alcohol limit.
The first driver also failed the breathalyzer and was served an immediate roadside prohibition from driving for 90 days and had their vehicle impounded for 30 days.
No officers were in the car that was struck and no injuries were reported. The vehicle will need minor repairs to the rear body.