More than 50 impaired driving related charges laid over Thanksgiving weekend

It seems drivers are not getting the message about drinking and driving.

According to a report, Ontario provincial police laid more than 35 impaired driving related charges in the GTA since Friday morning, as part of “Operation Impact.” That’s an increase from 29 over last Thanksgiving weekend.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt told the CBC one of the impaired drivers was a Blue Jays fan. He stressed the importance of designated drivers to anyone hosting a Jays viewing party.

In Durham Region, police said seven people were arrested for impaired driving over the long weekend, which is down from 15 from last year. York regional police said they laid 14 impaired driving charges.

Toronto police have not yet released their numbers from the holiday weekend.

Drunk driving was the alleged cause of at least one crash on GTA highways over the weekend.

Arti Vyas, 60, from Mississauga, died after the vehicle she was riding in was rear-ended on Highway 400, near Finch Avenue West, early Sunday morning. Three other people were injured.

Jonathan Ian Brown, 25, of Brampton, is facing multiple charges including impaired driving causing death, and possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose.

Earlier in the week, a first-year student at University of Western Ontario, died after she was struck by a minivan on campus on Wednesday night.

Andrea Christidis, 18, from Scarborough, died of her injuries in hospital on Friday.

A visitation is being held on Tuesday. The funeral is scheduled for Wednesday at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto.

Jared DeJong, 24, from London, is charged with dangerous driving causing bodily harm, impaired operation causing bodily harm and having in excess of 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.

With files from The Canadian Press

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