A witness report of a swerving van led West Shore RCMP officers to an unconscious driver near an elementary school in Langford on June 4.
Police say the call came in at 2:42 p.m., reporting a grey van driving erratically on Happy Valley Road. The vehicle was reportedly weaving in and out of its lane before stopping near the 3400 block.
Officers found the driver unconscious inside the van.
She later regained consciousness and showed signs and symptoms of suspected drug impairment, according to RCMP.
“What is especially concerning in this incident is the proximity to an elementary school and the time of day the driver was encountered,” said Cpl. Nathan Brown, who oversees the West Shore RCMP Traffic Unit.
“This situation could have resulted in much more serious consequences for pedestrians, particularly children leaving school at the time. We thank the witness for contacting police immediately.”
A drug-impaired driving investigation was launched.
The driver, a 39-year-old woman, was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition and the van was impounded. The investigation remains ongoing pending the results of a Drug Influence Evaluation conducted by a Drug Recognition Expert.
Brown said impaired driving is a preventable crime.
West Shore RCMP says it has removed more than 70 impaired drivers from local roads since the start of 2026, including 11 drivers allegedly impaired by drugs.