A police officer was nearly hit by an oncoming driver on the highway. 401 near Prescott

An off-duty Grenville officer in an unmarked police car was nearly struck by an oncoming driver on Highway 401 near Prescott.

An Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officer was traveling eastbound when a vehicle traveling in the wrong direction nearly collided with them head-on. The vehicle passed the officer and continued traveling in the wrong direction.

The officer saw the suspect driver make a U-turn and begin driving eastbound. The officer followed him as he exited the highway in Johnstown and stopped.

Upon approaching the vehicle, the OPP officer identified himself to the driver, who fled at high speed toward the U.S. border.

The suspect turned around again and drove the wrong way away from the overhead bridge when another officer arrived and blocked the exit.

“Officers conducted surveillance of the driver and began an investigation into drunk driving,” the press release states.

The driver was arrested and charged by the Grenville OPP with dangerous operation of a vehicle and a drug test was later conducted.

The defendant was released pending trial in December.