A street sweeper operator accused of driving erratically while impaired and crashing into a ditch in Barrie was arrested Thursday evening.
Police say they received a 911 call about a street sweeper driving into oncoming traffic on Lockhart Road shortly after 7 p.m.
When officers arrived, the operator was attempting to remove the machine from a ditch.
The officers said they noticed signs of impairment and arrested the 35-year-old man from Barrie.
He allegedly refused to submit suitable samples for breath analysis and ultimately was charged with impaired driving and failure or refusal to comply with demand.
He was later released from police custody, but not before being handed a 90-day driver’s licence suspension.
Additionally, the street sweeper was impounded for seven days at the registered owner’s expense.
Police confirmed the operator has no connection to the City of Barrie, and is a private contractor out of Toronto.
They also say he was not sweeping streets at the time.
