A twenty-three-year old male Thunder Bay resident is facing charges of driving while suspended and careless driving after allegedly falling asleep at the wheel while driving on Cumberland Street North.
The 2006 Mitsubishi sedan was northbound at a speed that one witness described as “high”, crossed the centerline and went off the roadway. It struck two trees, and continued airborne for 11 metres finally coming to rest mid-stream in the Current River.
There was gas and oil that was discharged into the river as a result of the crash, so further charges may be forthcoming.
Retrieval of the vehicle from the river was a task that certainly tested the skill sets of the tow truck drivers.
The driver was taken to hospital for treatment of a sore neck.
Case law has been previously been established that falling asleep while driving constitutes careless driving.
