Image

Impaired charge leads to probation, sobriety

February 10, 2022

Blake Ellis/Local Journalism Intiative

A Warwick man who passed out in his car after taking fentanyl says “it probably was the worst decision of my life so far.”

Tanner Ridley pled guilty to impaired driving in Sarnia Court Feb. 9.

Police were called to London Line in Warwick Township Sept. 28. The 28-year-old was stopped in a live lane of traffic, with the vehicle running and in drive. He was passed out in the driver’s seat and burnt tinfoil was on the seat beside him after taking fentanyl.

Ridley says he’s abused drugs seven years but he has been sober since the incident. And he has been attending a methadone clinic. “That was the lowest of lows,” he told Judge Krista Leszczynski. 

Ridley was sentenced to one year probation and a $1,500 fine. Part of his probation is to participate in counselling for his substance abuse. He will also not be allowed to drive for one year.

Share This

Image
Front Page

No injuries in three vehicle crash at Michigan/Waterworks corner

September 10, 2026

The Independent There was a lot of damage but no injuries in an accident at the corner of Waterworks Road and Michigan Line Thursday. Sarnia Fire Rescue officials were called to a three-vehicle accident this morning at the corner. One person had to be extricated from their vehicle but only minor injuries were reported. Officials said the intersection remains closed

Read More

Image
Front Page

Patients evacuated after gas leak at Petrolia hospital

September 10, 2026

Dawson Currie/For The Independent Patients at Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital in Petrolia were evacuated for a gas leak Wednesday night. Petrolia/North Enniskillen Fire Department was called to the hospital just before 8 pm for reports of a natural gas smell in the basement of the main building. Firefighters found hospital staff already working on evacuating patients from the Emergency Department

Read More

Image
Front Page

OPP lay over 1,000 speeding charges Labour Day weekend

September 9, 2026

The Independent Over 1,000 speeding charges in southern Ontario during the Labour Day weekend. West Region OPP say officers targetted “The Big Four” bad driving behaviours; aggressive driving, failure to wear a seatbelt, distracted driving and impaired driving which are the leading contributing factors to death and injury on Ontario’s highways. From Sept. 4 to 7, 1,004 speeding charges were

Read More

Image
Front Page

Port Lambton 16Us win OBA title

September 9, 2026

The Port Lambton 16U Pirates were a perfect 5-0 at the Provincial Championship over Labour Day weekend. The Pirates defeated Simcoe team 11-6 to capture the gold. The 11-team tournament was originally scheduled to begin Thursday, but heavy rain left the diamonds in Petrolia, Courtright and Port Lambton too wet to play until Saturday. Port Lambton opened with a 13-5

Read More