Ontario Provincial Police say a single-vehicle crash in Laurentian Valley Township early Saturday sent several people to hospital and led to impaired driving charges against a 19-year-old Pembroke man.
Police said officers from the Upper Ottawa Valley detachment, along with Laurentian Valley firefighters and Renfrew County paramedics, were called to White Water Road near Highway 17 around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 13th after a car struck a rock cut.
Seven people were in the vehicle. Four, including the driver, were taken to hospital. Two passengers were later airlifted by Ornge to a regional trauma centre with serious injuries, police said. The remaining passengers were not seriously hurt. The passengers ranged in age from 16 to 21.
Police said the driver was assessed at hospital and then taken to the Upper Ottawa Valley OPP detachment.
As a result of the investigation, a 19-year-old Pembroke resident has been charged with operation while impaired — blood alcohol concentration over 80 milligrams, three counts each of impaired operation causing bodily harm, careless driving causing bodily harm and dangerous operation causing bodily harm, as well as driving while under suspension.
The accused individual was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in Ontario Court of Justice in Pembroke on Jan. 13, 2026.
White Water Road remained closed overnight while police investigated the scene.
Anyone with information or video footage is asked to contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477 or online.
(Steve Berard)