Commercial trucker David Glen Hildahl, 45, of Trail, B.C. after pleading guilty and being sentenced at provincial court in Nanaimo. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Disturbing crime

Drunk driver of 18-wheeler sentenced in Nanaimo for ‘shocking’ behaviour

Dec 17, 2019 | 8:10 AM

NANAIMO — A trucker’s big rig is parked indefinitely after he admitted to a stunning case of drunk driving in Nanaimo.

David Glen Hildahl, 45, pleaded guilty and was sentenced for impaired driving on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at provincial court in Nanaimo.

His 18-wheeler was pulled over on the Nanaimo Parkway the evening of Friday, Oct. 25 after concerned drivers reported his erratic southbound truck. His big rig nearly hit other vehicles while passing through Nanaimo before police intervened near the Fifth St. exit.

Empty beer cans were found by police in the pulled over truck’s cab.

Hildahl will spend the next two years on probation, with a one-year criminal driving prohibition and he’ll have to pay a mandatory $1,000 fine. His commercial driving license was also pulled.

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The Crown’s Caroline Narroway said the two years probation is considered high, but was issued due to the seriousness of the offence.

Following Hildahl’s arrest, Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien called his behaviour shocking, disturbing and rarely seen.

“Just imagine it’s a missile going down they highway. Thank goodness (officers) stopped it in time before a tragic accident occurred,” O’Brien said.

Hildahl expressed remorse in court for the danger he caused. He claimed he’s no longer drinking and wants to participate in an alcohol treatment program.

The Trail B.C. man’s probation includes not possessing or consuming alcohol and completing any treatment programming as directed by his probation officer.

Hildahl has a limited criminal record in the province, which included a pair of probation breaches.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes