A 32-year-old Chilliwack man with a history of bad driving faces impaired driving charges after allegedly fleeing the scene of a minor accident in Vedder Crossing last week.
Ryan Michael Gillanders was arrested not far away from a fender-bender in the 5700-block of Vedder Road on June 16 just before 8 p.m.
RCMP were called to investigate the accident and the report the driver failed to stay at the scene. The suspect vehicle was quickly located and stopped by a general duty RCMP officer in the 6600-block of Chilliwack River Road.
The officer reported noting symptoms of intoxication in the alleged driver who was arrested by police.
Gillanders is charged with impaired operation, fail to stop, refusal, and two counts breach of undertaking. He was released on bail on July 17, and his next court appearance is July 23.
“Operating a motor vehicle while impaired is a dangerous practice which compromises the safety of the community,” said Chilliwack RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Mike Rail. “RCMP remain committed to removing impaired drivers from our roadways.”
Gillanders has a history of Motor Vehicle Act violations and criminal convictions dating back to 2006.
In January of this year, he was convicted of driving without due care and attention for a 2013 offence. He had originally been charged with failure to stop at accident with person and dangerous driving causing bodily harm, but was convicted of the lesser included offence. He was fined $2,000 and prohibited from driving for six months.
Gillanders was also convicted of the same offence on Jan. 9, 2018, the lesser included to a charge of impaired driving from Dec. 24, 2016. He was fined $750 and prohibited from driving for 12 months.
He violated that on Dec. 19, 2018 and was convicted of driving while prohibited on March 5 of this year, and fined $500 with another one-year driving ban.
Gillanders also has a one-day trial scheduled for Dec. 13, 2019 where he faces assault and unlawful confinement charges for an alleged domestic incident on Feb. 24, 2019.
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