Police officer almost struck by wrong-way driver on Hwy. 401 near Prescott

An off-duty Grenville officer in an unmarked police vehicle was almost struck by a wrong-way driver on Highway 401 near Prescott.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was travelling eastbound when a vehicle going the wrong direction almost collided with them head-on. The vehicle avoided the officer and continued in the wrong direction.

The police member saw the suspect driver make a U-turn and begin driving eastbound, the officer followed them exiting the highway at Johnstown and came to a stop.

Approaching the vehicle, the OPP officer identified themselves to the driver who fled toward the United States border at a high rate of speed.

The suspect made another U-turn and drove in the wrong direction from the suspension bridge when another officer arrived and blocked the exit.

“Officers made observations of the driver and entered into an impaired driving investigation,” the press release notes.

The driver was arrested and charged by the Grenville detachment of the OPP with dangerous operation of a vehicle, and later a drug recognition evaluation was conducted.

The accused was release with a court date in December.