By Taylor MacPherson

Correctional Centre crash not a breakout attempt

Oct 24, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Officials have confirmed a driver who crashed into the perimeter fence of the Prince Albert Provincial Correctional Centre late Saturday night was not involved in an escape attempt – he was just driving while impaired.

“It wasn’t a breakout attempt,” Ministry of Justice spokesperson Drew Wilby told paNOW. “There weren’t any indications that there was anything going on within the centre that was related to that crash.”

Wilby said the crash caused “fairly significant damage” to the centre’s exterior chain-link fence. Prince Albert police were notified immediately by corrections staff, and arrested the driver, Wilby said.

Although the crash was not related to any activity within the centre, Wilby said it has still affected the centre’s routine.

“We’ve restricted activity to that area of course,” he said.

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Wilby noted the area in question was not readily accessible by inmates, and outdoor exercise time was moved to other portions of the yard.

“It has taken extra staff resources, of course, to set up a patrol in that area to make sure that there’s nothing coming in or going out of the facility,” Wilby said.

Work crews were on the scene today, hauling away the broken portions of the chain-link fence and assessing damages. Wilby told paNOW the ministry will seek restitution from the driver if his insurance does not cover the damage to their fence, and estimated the cost of the repairs will be more than $10,000.

“The taxpayers really shouldn’t be covering the cost of that,” he said.

Prince Albert Police Sgt. Travis Willie confirmed the male driver was arrested and charged with impaired driving and refusing to provide a breath sample. The accused was released on an appearance notice, and will answer the charges in provincial court Nov. 23.

Taylor.macpherson@jpbg.ca

@TMacPhersonNews