Highway 97 in Vernon reopened following serious crash near cadet camp

Highway 97 at Kalamalka Road in Vernon reopened late Friday after being closed because of a serious crash.

The serious multi-vehicle crash brought Friday morning traffic in and out of Vernon to a standstill.

The crash happened around 8:30 a.m., near the Vernon Cadet Camp, and RCMP said there were five vehicles involved.

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Witnesses to the scene told Global News there was debris all over the road and one car was covered with a blanket as emergency crews worked to deal with the aftermath of the collision.

Traffic is slowly being moved past the wreckage, but that portion of Highway 97 will be closed for several hours as the investigation by B.C. Highway Patrol continues.

Drivers are urged to avoid the area and use an alternative route. Detours are being set up and updates will be provided when available and posted to DriveBC.