Police say they believe the driver of an ice cream truck that ended up in a ditch in Surrey, B.C., may have been impaired.

RCMP say officers were called at about 3:45 p.m. PT Thursday afternoon when witnesses saw an ice cream truck driving erratically on 141st Street near 100th Avenue.

Staff Sgt. Murray Hedderson said the truck hit several garbage cans along the side of the road before it drove into the ditch.

"The driver, a 45-year-old resident of Surrey, was dealt with at the scene," Hedderson said.

"Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this incident."

The driver was examined by paramedics but didn't have any apparent injuries.

Police apprehend the driver of an ice cream truck that crashed into a ditch in Surrey. (Shane MacKichan)

Gurpreet Sandhu was at home when the crash happened.

"I thought it was just a normal ice cream truck, but then I saw it drive across our grass in our front yard," he said. "So I thought, OK, something's up."

By the time Sandhu ran outside, the truck was in the ditch. He claims he could smell alcohol on the driver.

"He tried to walk away, but he couldn't," he said.

"It's kind of concerning because there are lots of kids around here ... It could have been a lot worse."