Missing-person report leads officers to rail bed, impaired ATV operator charged

DORION – REGIONAL NEWS: It sometimes seems that despite decades of public education and countless reminders, people all too often seem obtuse to the message of not drinking and driving. That not only applies to motor vehicles on our roads and highways, but to boats, ATV, and other motorized vehicles.

On Friday, July 4, 2025, at approximately 10:00 p.m., officers from the Nipigon Detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police were alerted to a missing person believed to be driving an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) on the railway bed near Dorion, Ontario.

Residents reported spotting the ATV on the rail bed—an area both unauthorized and hazardous for motor vehicles.

Police immediately launched a search, canvassing nearby roads and trails under fading daylight conditions.

At around 11:00 p.m., officers located the ATV—and its lone operator—on the rail bed close to Black Bay Drive. Upon contact, the driver exhibited signs of impairment. An Approved Screening Device (ASD) breath test registered a fail, indicating blood alcohol concentration over the legal limit, and further investigation revealed possible drug impairment as well.

Charges Laid Under the Criminal Code

The driver, Robert PRICE, 67, of Pearl, was placed under arrest and transported to the Nipigon Detachment for additional testing. He now faces two Criminal Code charges:

• Operation While Impaired — Blood Alcohol Concentration (80+ mg per 100 ml)

• Operation While Impaired by Alcohol and Drugs

PRICE was subsequently released with conditions and is scheduled to appear before the Ontario Court of Justice in Nipigon at a later date.

OPP Reminds Public: Report Unsafe Driving

The OPP underscores that driving any vehicle—especially off-road machines like ATVs—requires unimpaired operation for everyone’s safety. Operating on railway beds poses extreme risks both to drivers and to rail traffic.

If you witness a vehicle or ATV being driven while impaired by alcohol or drugs, please call 9-1-1 immediately. For non-emergencies or to report suspicious driving behavior, contact the OPP’s 24-hour non-emergency line at 1-888-310-1122.

Highway and off-road safety is a shared responsibility—staying vigilant and reporting impaired drivers helps protect all road and trail users.