Cruisers damaged after drivers run road blocks

Two police cruisers were damaged in two separate incidents as drivers ran through police road blocks.

The first occurred on Monday, March 7 at approximately 11 p.m., when an officer was blocking northbound traffic on Lakeridge Road, just north of Myrtle Road West in Pickering while firefighters were attempting to put out a car fire. The cruiser’s roof lights were on and pylons had been placed across the road. According to police, a northbound car drove around the road black and continued driving towards the fire.

The cruiser attempted to pull over the car, and eventually had to angle the cruiser in front of it to get it to stop. Both vehicles sustained minor damage as a result.

The next day, at approximately 5:20 p.m., police had closed off a portion of Wilson Road North in Oshawa for a house fire. According to police, a northbound car drove around the police cruiser, which had its roof lights on. When the car couldn’t get past the fire trucks, it went into reverse, hitting the cruiser. Both vehicles sustained minor damage.

A 37-year-old Oshawa male has been charged with driving on a closed highway in connection with the first incident.

A 19-year-old Oshawa male has been charged with careless driving and disobeying a police officer directing traffic in connection with the second incident.

Police are reminding residents to obey road blocks and drive with caution in the area.