Abbotsford Police were called out to deal with a drunk driver who put his car into park in one of the city's busiest intersections and went to sleep - while he had two boys seated in the back.
Photograph by: File photo , Abbotsford Times
A drunk driver with two children in his car caused traffic chaos after putting his car into park at a busy Abbotsford intersection and going to sleep on Wednesday afternoon.
A 48-year-old man driving a Ford Focus north on Trethewey was with his son and neighbour's kid when he navigated into the left hand turn lane at South Fraser Way around 12:30 p.m., said Const. Ian MacDonald.
"That's when he parks it and either passes out or decides to take a nap with seven- and eight-year-old kids in the back seat of the car," said MacDonald.
"Needless to say, this creates a bit of a traffic cluster."
Witnesses concerned about the safety of the two boys took them from the vehicle to a safe place until police arrived, said MacDonald.
The driver was so out of it he simply clambered into the back seat to get more comfortable after the children were removed.
"What's most astonishing to me is when people are moving his and the neighbour's kid out of the car, he doesn't even protest or notice," said MacDonald.
Officers arrived and soon came to the conclusion the driver was likely impaired.
A suspicion confirmed when the man failed a roadside breathalyzer test.
As such, his car was seized and he got an immediate 90-day-roadside suspension, said MacDonald.
What's more, when the man gets his car back he'll have to install an ignition breathalyzer at his own expense.
The children taken from the car were delivered safely into the hands of relatives.
It was fortunate nothing serious happened, but largely thanks to the actions of the bystanders, said MacDonald.
"Kudos to the witnesses who got involved in the situation to safeguard the kids."
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