The Southern Georgian Bay OPP were called to investigate three crashes late Sunday on roadways in North Simcoe.
Shortly before 11 p.m., a community member called police after seeing an eastbound vehicle on Robert Street in Penetanguishene enter a ditch before striking a tree and a road sign.
The vehicle continued despite dragging car parts with it as it headed east, police said in a news release.
Officers were able to locate the vehicle in a medical facility parking lot in Penetanguishene and located the driver nearby. Upon observing and speaking with the driver, an impaired driving investigation was commenced, police said.
Alexander Lawrence Smith, 53, of Orillia has been charged criminally with:
- Operation while impaired - alcohol
- Operation while impaired - blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Dangerous operation
The accused was released and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice on Nov. 20.
The driver also faces a 90-day driver's licence suspension as per the Ministry of Transportation guidelines as well the vehicle was towed and impounded for seven days, according to police.
None of the allegations have been tested in court and Smith is considered innocent unless proven guilty.
In a separate incident, a community member contacted police shortly before at 8 p.m. to report a vehicle in the ditch on Talbot Street in Tay Township which appeared to have rolled over.
The 40-year-old Tay Township driver had escaped injury after avoiding wildlife on the roadway, according to police.
In a third incident, a single vehicle crash at around 7:15 p.m. on the southbound lanes of Highway 400 near Crooked Bay Road, Georgian Bay Township closed one southbound lane for investigation.
Attending officers, Simcoe County Paramedics and Georgian Bay Township Fire Services contained the scene, extricated and triaged the lone 52-year-old Severn Township resident. The driver was transported to an area hospital by paramedics and later to a Toronto area trauma hospital for treatment.
OPP Technical Traffic Collision Investigators (TTCI) are assisting in investigation into the cause of the crash.
