Man loses job after impaired crash in Echo Bay

A man lost his job when he had nearly three times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood and crashed his off-road vehicle this spring. Ontario Provincial Police went to a single-vehicle collision on Watson Road in Echo Bay on May 16, Ontario Court Justice Colin McMorrow heard Thursday. A side-by-side vehicle was in [...]

Article content A man lost his job when he had nearly three times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood and crashed his off-road vehicle this spring. Ontario Provincial Police went to a single-vehicle collision on Watson Road in Echo Bay on May 16, Ontario Court Justice Colin McMorrow heard Thursday. Recommended Videos A side-by-side vehicle was in a ditch.

Lannigan was very unsteady on his feet. His speech was slurred. There was a strong smell of alcohol on his breath, said assistant Crown attorney David Didiodato.

The father of three was taken to the OPP detachment in Sault Ste. Marie. His breath samples read 222 and 223 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Lannigan pleaded guilty to having a blood/alcohol level of more than 80 milligrams. McMorrow accepted a joint position from Didiodato and defence counsel Anthony Orazietti. Lannigan was fined $2,000.

He has 12 months to pay the fine. Lannigan was also convicted of the same charge in 2018. He can’t drive for a year.

Lannigan was terminated from his job at Township of Macdonald, Meredit & Aberdeen Additional due to the collision. He now commutes to work for Gilbertson Enterprises in Wawa. Lannigan previously “struggled” with alcohol and was sober for two years before drinking to celebrate his 40th birthday, said Orazietti.

He has made “significant” steps to deal with his alcohol use, his lawyer added. Lannigan’s decision to drink “cost him quite a bit.” He’ll lose his licence for three years.

“I’m deeply sorry we are here today,” said Lannigan. “I thought I had (alcohol abuse) beat.” He said he is “going back to sobriety.”

McMorrow called Lannigan’s readings “staggeringly high.” He added it’s “troubling”the former Algoma Steel worker did not learn from his 2018 impaired conviction. McMorrow was encouraged Lannigan has “acted on the wake-up call” and has contacted his counsellor and is attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.

“That is all to your credit,” he said. A potential issue if Lannigan’s matter went to trial is no one saw him behind the wheel of the side-by-side, said Didiodato. On X: @Saultreporter