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Drunk driver hits two street signs, telephone pole

A drunk driver who sped through Penticton in 2014 will spend 91 days in jail.
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The drunk driver who hit two street signs and a telephone pole injuring one of his friends will spend 91 days in jail.

Tyler Jeffery White, 25,  is convicted of dangerous driving causing bodily harm and impaired driving causing bodily harm in relation to an incident on Aug. 4, 2014.

White, who has no prior criminal record, was driving through downtown Penticton after a night out at the bar and was followed by police after it was determined he was  driving dangerously.

After an RCMP officer lost sight of the vehicle, White struck a stop sign on White Avenue and continued to drive. White was later located by RCMP and did not pull over for officers, reaching speeds of 80 to100 kilometres an hour and striking another street sign near the Penticton Regional Hospital on Carmi Avenue.

White continued to drive and struck a telephone pole on Okanagan Avenue where police apprehended him.

One of the passengers suffered an injured elbow that required 40 staples and a week-long stay at the hospital.

RCMP said White had watery eyes, a flushed face and there was a strong odour of liquor when he was arrested and vomited multiple times at the police station.

“I have remorse for it,” White told the court before being sentenced to the minimum 90 days, with an additional day added to pay for the monetary charges.

White will also have to formally apologize to the passengers and will serve two years of probation, 100 hours of community service and will be unable to enter a liquor establishment or operate a motor vehicle for two years.