Alex Kurial
Local Journalism Initiative

Two police officers had to leap out of the way when a drunk driver buzzed past them at high speed north of Corunna.
Two Sarnia officers were walking back to their car on the side of the St. Clair Parkway around 1 am when a Chevy Silverado truck, driven by Jack Johnston, 21, came at them at high speed. As it got closer to the cop car, the officers flashed lights and yelled to try and get the driver’s attention. The truck didn’t slow, racing by the officers at high speed. Both officers had to press their backs against the cruiser to avoid being hit.
Johnston then drifted partly off the road and continued on. The two officers pulled him over and gave a breathalyzer, which he failed.
Johnston was arrested and taken to the Sarnia police station where he blew two-and-a half times the legal limit.
Crown attorney Suzanne LaSha asked that a $2,250 fine and one year driving ban be imposed on Johnston. “The reasons for the elevated fine are the readings which are especially high and… the nature of the driving, which caused the officers to take evasive action,” says LaSha. She said Johnston came within “mere feet of striking both officers.”
“There’s no suggestion that was intentional on the part of the driver, but it nevertheless presented a danger to the officers.” Johnston was on a G2 license at the time.
Defense lawyer Donald Elliott was hoping for the mandatory minimum $2,000 fine for drunk driving. He said Johnston was reaching down for something when he drove by the officers, and that his client has already paid for this incident with a $490 fine for breaking the Move Over Law for emergency vehicles.
Johnston acknowledged his actions during court.
“I know it’s a learned lesson and something to grow from. I know it’s a stepping stone that I need and something that I need to work on,” he says. “It was something that I know I shouldn’t have done and something that will never happen again.”
Justice Krista Leszczynski sided with the defense in her decision, fining Johnston $2,000 and banning him from driving for a year. “The penalties for this type of event are significant, and they’re meant to be… to deter you or others from doing this again,” says Leszczynski.
“While you say that you’ve learned your lesson and you won’t do it again, the fine that I will impose is meant to drive that home for you.”