EDMONTON — Drunk-driving charges against the head of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) have been dropped due to a technicality.

AFL president Gil McGowan, 45, was accused of impaired driving and driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than .08 after a single-vehicle crash in Edmonton May 25.

Firefighters responded to a 911 call reporting the 2:50 a.m. collision and discovered McGowan’s vehicle was smoking and had apparent damage to a front wheel and the transmission. McGowan was arrested and taken to the station for Breathalyzer tests.

But a judge dismissed the impaired driving charge last week after ruling he was left with a reasonable doubt as to whether McGowan’s ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired by alcohol.

After the ruling, the Crown withdrew the second charge.

Alberta Justice spokeswoman Michelle Davio said there was deficient evidence regarding the Breathalyzer, namely a defect in the certificate of analysis, which is the document that contains the breath or blood-test results.