Impaired driving charges have been laid against a 29-yaer-old man from Christopher Lake in connection with this collision on the Diefenbaker Bridge on Wednesday. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Diefenbaker Bridge collision update

Impaired driving charge laid in bridge collision

Aug 18, 2023 | 2:03 PM

A 29-year-old man from Christopher Lake is charged with impaired driving and driving while over the legal alcohol limit in connection with a four-vehicle crash on the Diefenbaker Bridge on Wednesday.

The man has not been named as he has not yet made his first court appearance, said Prince Albert Police.

PAPS first received word about 3:40 pm on August 16 of a red pickup driving erratically on Highway 2 and heading into the city.

Multiple witnesses have told paNOW that they saw the truck driving in and out of traffic and ‘suicide passing’ from well north of town.

“I was also travelling south and right before the collision the red truck overtook me in the left southbound lane travelling very fast, I was going about 55 and he came out of nowhere and was past me in a split second, I estimate he was travelling at least 80km/hour,” said one reader who wants to remain anonymous.

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He said shortly after that, the red truck jumped the median between the north and south bound lanes causing multiple vehicles to swerve out of the way.

Another reader was also in the southbound lane at the back of a group of vehicles when he saw two cars with a vehicle length gap between them, also heading south.

“The red truck must have been going 100 km/hr going down the bridge when he swerved between the cars like a “moose test”. He then lost control and was going to hit the back of me when he swerved and jumped the meridian,” said the witness.

The front tires of the red Dodge then blew, and wheels bent in and the driver accelerated down the oncoming lane.

Because he couldn’t steer, the Dodge collided with the bridge then into the truck and camper where it became pinned and immobilized.

PAPS confirmed no one was seriously injured in the crash and are asking anyone with information to call and report it.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com