KELOWNA — Two people were taken to hospital and one man is in custody after an eight vehicle crash on Highway 97 in Kelowna on Sunday.
It was shortly before 12:30 p.m. that the Kelowna RCMP and its municipal traffic section responded to the scene of the eight-vehicle pileup on Highway 97 near McCurdy Road.
READ MORE: Multiple vehicle crash ties up Highway 97 in Kelowna
Cst. Jesse O’Donaghey said in a news release that both speed and drugs are believed to be factors in the crash.
Police believe the driver of a southbound blue Ford Explorer was straddling the centre line and speeding.
“The driver of the Explorer, who did not seem to make any attempts to slow or stop, sideswiped and rear ended a total of seven other vehicles, which were stopped at a red light at the intersection of McCurdy Road and Highway 97,” said O’Donaghey.
A witness at the scene told police the driver of the SUV appeared to be “out of it” and the witness stayed with the driver until RCMP arrived.
“Officers at the scene detected signs and symptoms of suspected drug intoxication. As a result a demand was made to the driver who was taken to the Kelowna RCMP detachment where a drug recognition expert was called in to conduct a drug influence evaluation,” said O’Donaghey.
Seven of the 15 occupants of the vehicles involved in the crash suffered non-life threatening injuries and were treated by emergency health services at the scene.
“Of those seven, a man and a woman were transported to hospital for further assessment and treatment for non-life threatening injuries,” said O’Donaghey.
The driver of the Explorer, a 45-year-old Kelowna man, is facing potential drug impaired driving charges, as well as charges under the motor vehicle act for driving without a valid licence.
“He was later released and is expected to appear in court at a later date,” said O’Donaghey.
Anyone who witnessed the crash and has not yet talked to police is talked to contact Kelowna RCMP.
Comments