(Submitted image/RCMP)

By Pete McIntyre

Under the influence

Crash on Okanagan Connector injures four

May 26, 2021 | 1:53 PM

PEACHLAND, B.C. — Four people were taken to hospital after a crash on the Okanagan Connector Tuesday evening (May 25).

BC RCMP Highway Patrol said just before 5 p.m., West Kelowna RCMP and emergency medical services responded to a report of a single vehicle rollover collision west of Peachland along Highway 97C near the Pennask Summit.

“Frontline officers arrived on scene to find a severely damaged grey Kia Rio and four vehicle occupants, suffering from varying degrees of injury and in need of immediate medical attention,” RCMP Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said.

The driver, a West Kelowna woman in her 50’s, sustained serious injuries, and was airlifted from the scene in grave condition by BC Emergency Health Services Air Ambulance to a regional hospital.

The three passengers, an adult man and two young children, who each suffered what are believed to be serious non-life threatening injuries, were transported by ambulance to hospital by ground.

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“Although the investigation into the causal factors is in its early stages, police believe that the driver had been under the influence of an intoxicating substance while behind the wheel. As such, a criminal impaired driving investigation is now underway,” O’Donaghey stated. “Investigators have not yet ruled out speed, and both road or weather conditions as additional contributing factors in this devastating crash.”

A collision analyst has been examining the scene and gathering physical evidence to support the investigation, being led by BC Highway Patrol Kelowna.

Anyone who witnessed the crash, or has dash camera footage of it, or those who recorded the movements of the vehicle involved prior to crash and have not yet spoken to police, are asked to call BC Highway Patrol Kelowna at 250-491-5354.