(QMI Agency)

SAULT STE. MARIE -- A disqualified driver, talking on a cellphone, tried to switch seats with a passenger while his vehicle was moving Saturday, police say.

An officer spotted the man driving a black Dodge Ram pickup and talking on a cellphone at about 8:50 a.m.

He turned his vehicle around to stop the truck and saw “a flurry of activity in the car,” said Staff Sgt. Ken Hruska of Sault Ste. Marie Police Service.

The man allegedly picked up “a much smaller female” and put her in the driver's seat while he slid over to the passenger's seat. The truck, while slowing down, kept moving and started to swerve towards the centre line, police said.

The officer moved his cruiser to prevent other eastbound traffic from colliding with the truck before stopping it.

Lucas Leyenhorst, 25, of Red Deer, Alta., was charged with driving while disqualified and distracted driving.

He is scheduled to appear in court on March 25.