Hamilton police charge one person with impaired driving in relation to June double fatal collision

Police have charged one person in connection to a collision in Stoney Creek that killed two people in June.

Officers say they were called to Upper Centennial Parkway between Mud Street East and Green Mountain Road shortly after midnight on June 1.

Their investigation revealed that a Ford F-150 had collided with a Chevrolet Silverado whilst travelling south on Upper Centennial Parkway. After colliding with the Silverado, the F-150 crossed into the northbound lanes and struck a 2015 Kia Sorento head-on.

Both the driver and passenger of the Sorento were pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the F-150 was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver of the Silverado was not injured.

Police have now arrested and charged 32-year-old Nemanja Trivanovic of Hamilton with the following:

• Dangerous operation causing death x 2
• Impaired operation causing death x 2
• Over 80 causing death x 2 (driving with a blood alcohol concentration over 80 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood, or over 0.08)
• Stunt driving
• Speeding – 140km/h in a 70 km/h zone
• Defective brakes
• Operate unsafe motor vehicle

Police say the Collision Reconstruction Unit investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information that may assist officers is asked to contact police at 905-546-4753 or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

A noticeable increase in impaired driving

Hamilton police say in May incidents involving impaired driving shot up by 25 per cent compared to the same time last year.

In June it was worse, with incidents claiming more than 50 per cent.

Hamilton police chief Frank Bergen, in a video released Friday, called on the public to report impaired driving and also warned others to avoid doing it themselves.

Police say since the start of June there have been three fatal crashes tied to drinking and driving.

The Ontario Safety League said they found the latest report from Hamilton police “depressing” and they are seeing data that shows enforcement is up.

“We’ve seen an uptick in people looking for access to our diversions program, meaning that there are more – there are more cases being brought to the courts, as a result of higher levels of enforcement,” said Angelo Dicicco, the president of the Ontario Safety League.

The league said there has been a rise in enforcement tied to not just alcohol and driving, but the use of other substances  and even distracted driving.

Hamilton police say they will be ramping up patrols with more R.I.D.E. programs on the road and on the water.

READ MORE: Two people dead, one injured in three-vehicle crash on Stoney Creek Mountain