Serious crash on Highway 97 sends 2 people to hospital: RCMP
Mounties are investigating a serious crash on Highway 97 in Kelowna, B.C., that sent two people to hospital late Wednesday night.
In a news release Thursday, Kelowna RCMP said an officer was on routine patrols just before midnight when they spotted a black Mercedes travelling “well under the posted speed limit” and “unable to maintain lanes” south on the highway near Ellison Lake.
“The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, which then fled at a dangerously high rate of speed,” Const. Mike Della-Paolera said in the release. “For officer and public safety, no pursuit was initiated and the officer pulled over.”
RCMP lost sight of the vehicle but shortly afterwards came across a large dust cloud and debris at the John Hindle Drive off-ramp, which merges with Highway 97.
“The officer located the same Mercedes over the embankment in a ditch a significant distance from the highway. The officer then located an ejected passenger who had significant injuries and the driver who was trapped and required assistance to exit the heavily-damaged vehicle,” said Della-Paolera.
Both the driver and passenger were taken to a nearby hospital in serious but stable condition.
The highway is expected to remain closed for some time as Mounties continue their investigation.
“This collision is a prime example of the dangers of excessive speeding on British Columbia roadways,” Della-Paolera added. “These two individuals are extremely lucky to have survived and have a long, difficult recovery ahead.”
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash cam video of the area is asked to contact Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300 and reference file number 2023-30191.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.