Drunk driver on Vancouver Island was hauling fuel tanks on 18-wheeler

Police in Nanaimo made a "very troubling and shocking" arrest this week after they stopped a drunk driver behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler hauling fuels tanks.

Nanaimo RCMP got several calls from the public about the truck being driven erratically from Parksville to Nanaimo Oct. 25 around 9 p.m. Const. Gary O'Brien says in a release, it was evident from the moment the driver left the vehicle that he was impaired. Also empty beer cans fell out of the truck when he got out. 

"What was disturbing and rarely seen, was the fact that the driver was operating an 18-wheeler and hauling fuel tanks," O'Brien said. "Very troubling and shocking, were just some of the comments made by the investigating officers. Although the fuel tanks were later found to be empty, given the sheer size of the vehicle, and distance travelled in an impaired state, it was simply a miracle that a tragic accident had not occurred."

The 46-year-old driver from a north Island community was arrested, charged and released to appear in court. 

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