Drunk driving arrests up 40 per cent in Happy Valley-Goose Bay

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Happy Valley-Goose Bay say its seeing a disturbing trend in the community: a rise in drunk driving arrests. 

According to police statistics, the number of arrests connected to impaired driving offences increased 40 per cent from 2013 to 2014.

The latest instance occurred at 2 a.m. on Friday, when a man was charged in relation with a hit and run that involved three vehicles. According to a witness report, an SUV driver struck two vehicles on a town street. 

The 37-year-old driver was later arrested by police in a local hotel parking lot and faces charges of impaired driving and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

Police said 47 people in Happy Valley-Goose Bay were charged with impaired driving offences in 2014, while 34 people were charged the previous year.

So far, six instances of impaired driving have been reported for 2015.