The report of a driver slumped over the steering wheel of his vehicle has resulted in a followup investigation by Kelowna RCMP as the driver now faces potential charges.
On April 28 at 4:14 p.m., a Kelowna resident notified the RCMP of a driver slumped over their wheel after he pulled into the parking lot of a local convenience store located in the 2100 block of Richter Street.
When officers arrived at the scene, the driver was still occupying the driver’s seat and appeared to be asleep. Despite the efforts made by police, the driver could not be woken easily and appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicating substance.
Investigators also observed what appeared to be some illegal drugs in plain sight inside the vehicle.
The driver was eventually removed from the car and taken to the RCMP detachment for an impaired driving test and drug influence evaluation.
The driver, a 36-year-old Kelowna man, faces potential charges of impaired care and control of a vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. He was later released and will be appearing in court on Sept. 29.
“We want to thank the caller who notified the police and stayed on scene until the member arrived,” said Kelowna RCMP Cpl. Tania Carroll.
“Had the caller not stayed, the driver could have woken up and began driving again, putting the public and himself at greater risk."