Driver's name released in connection to motorcycle death

A St. John's man charged with impaired driving causing death will appear in provincial court next month.

Ronald Thistle, 65, was charged by the Royal Newfoundland Constabularymore than a week ago, although police formally released his name on Friday.

Thistle is chargedin connection with the death of 27-year-old Nicholas Coates, whodied from injuries sustained in an August 16 vehicle-motorcycle collision in St. John's.

It is alleged that Thistle was drunk when he pulled his pickup truck out of Polina Road onto Kenmount Road around 11:00 a.m. Coates was said to be driving eastbound on Kenmount Road when he drove into the side of Thistle's vehicle.

Court recordsshow that Thistle has no previous convictions for impaired driving.

The accused is scheduled to make hisfirst court appearance on September 6.