ONE in 12 drivers pulled up in a high-visibility drug testing operation across Griffith, Leeton and Narrandera over the weekend were under the influence of drugs, police discovered.
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Highway Patrol police combined with local general duties police for the operation and conducted 167 roadside drug tests on drivers on Friday and Saturday.
Of those tested, 14 drivers returned a positive result for illegal drugs.
All of the drivers were issued with a prohibition notice to prevent them from driving for 24 hours afterwards and police will await further testing of secondary samples before taking any action.
“The amount of people driving on our roads with illegal substances in their system is very disturbing,” Griffith Police Inspector Anthony Reneker said.
“The use of prohibited drugs is bad enough but to then get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle and drive on our local roads is just senseless.”
One driver was also charged with driving while disqualified, while another was found to be an unaccompanied learner driver.
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A 12-YEAR-OLD Griffith boy had a lucky escape on Saturday afternoon after the motor bike he was riding collided head-on with a car in Verri Street.
Police allege the boy was riding an unregistered 60cc motor cycle in a southerly direction about 1.45pm when he crossed onto the wrong side of the road and collided with a vehicle being driven by a 24-year-old Bargo man.
The boy was thrown from the bike and landed heavily on the side of the road.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics and was found to have escaped with only minor bruising.
Police are conducting further inquiries into the matter.
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GRIFFITH police are investigating an assault that occurred at Yenda in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Police allege a 23-year-old woman was at her Henry Street home about 1am when an 18-year-old woman arrived at her house.
An argument ensued, which culminated in the 18-year-old punching the older woman several times as well as pulling her hair.
The 23-year-old received minor injuries.
Police believe the women were known to each other.
Inquiries are continuing into the matter.