By Sue Tiffin

Staff reporter

A vehicle fire alerted police to an impaired driver in the early morning hours of March 14.

Emergency services responded to the vehicle fire just before 1 a.m. in the Gelert Road and Birch Narrows Road area.

A mid-size SUV was fully engulfed when Haliburton Highlands OPP and Dysart et al fire department arrived on scene. The lone male driver a 23-year-old man from Barrie had freed himself from the vehicle with no injuries.

An investigation into the incident revealed he had lost control trying to avoid a deer and entered a ditch. The driver was able to get the vehicle out of the ditch but it burst into flames soon after on Gelert Road. He was charged with Driving With Over 80 mg of Alcohol in Blood and Novice Driver – BAC above zero.

The accused is scheduled to appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Minden on May 2 . He also received a 90-day driver’s licence suspension and a 7-day vehicle impoundment.