FIERY TRUCK LEADS TO THEFT, IMPAIRED DRIVING CHARGES
RAMARA — A man charged with impaired driving is accused of stealing a loader to pull his unlicensed truck — which ended up in flames — out of a ditch early Thursday.
Provincial police from Orillia arrested and charged the 21-year-old with several other charges.
They say that on Feb. 11 at 1:30 a.m. officers were called to a vehicle on fire on Concession Road D-E.
When they arrived they found a fully engulfed pickup truck with no licence plates.
Ramara Fire Services extinguished the fire and no driver was found.
The driver eventually returned to the scene and when officers suspected impaired driving they began an investigation.
The driver was later arrested and as the investigation progressed a loader was located on its side in the ditch a short distance away.
Police say the driver is accused of stealing the loader from a nearby quarry in an attempt to pull his truck out of the ditch.
As a result, Jason Paugh, of Ramara, has been charged with:
- Operation while impaired – alcohol
- Operation while impaired – blood alcohol concentration (80 plus)
- Theft over $5000 of a motor vehicle
- Break, enter a place – with intent to commit an indictable offence
- Dangerous operation
- Operate motor vehicle without insurance
Fail to remain and several additional Highway Traffic Act violations
Paugh was released on a Form 10 Undertaking and is to appear on March 30, 2021, at the Ontario Court of Justice, Orillia.
If you have any information about the incident contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or report minor occurrences online by visiting www.opp.ca/reporting. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or submit your information online at www.crimestopperssdm.com if you have any information on this crime or any other crime. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display and you will remain anonymous. Being anonymous, you will not testify in court and your information may lead to a cash reward of up to $2,000.
