Police arrest drunk quad bike driver fleeing with child in Cēsis municipality

Police in Cēsis municipality arrested a quad bike driver who fled from officers while carrying a child and was found to have 2.69 parts per thousand of alcohol in his blood, LSM reported. Police have opened a criminal case and three administrative offence proceedings.

On August 18, officers from the South Vidzeme station of the State Police Vidzeme region administration were conducting traffic enforcement in Vaive Parish, part of Cēsis municipality, when they spotted a quad bike driver without a helmet. A child was also riding on the vehicle.

The officers activated the police vehicle’s lights and siren and ordered the driver to stop. Instead, the man began to flee.

To avoid creating an additional risk to the child’s safety, the police vehicle did not drive alongside the quad bike but followed it, repeatedly ordering the driver to stop. He ignored the demands.

During the pursuit, the man entered a farm, stopped the vehicle, got off and continued running. Officers soon arrested him, while the child was handed over to the child’s mother.

A breath test found that the man had been driving the quad bike with an alcohol level of 2.69 parts per thousand. Police also established that he did not have a valid driving licence.

The criminal case concerns driving a vehicle while intoxicated. The three administrative offence proceedings relate to failing to use a fastened protective helmet, failing to obtain mandatory civil liability insurance for the vehicle owner and using an unregistered vehicle on the road.

Police reminded quad bike drivers to follow traffic rules, including speed limits and helmet requirements. Officers said improper weight distribution, sudden manoeuvres or excessive speed can cause a quad bike to overturn.