Ross Road crash claims woman

by Dave Preston

It wasn’t a good weekend in the Central Okanagan for drivers and driving. One woman is dead, a pickup truck was destroyed by fire and a traffic light in Kelowna was demolished.

Ross Road fatality

Emergency crews were called to the scene of a two-car collision in West Kelowna Saturday evening at the intersection of Ross Road and Hwy. 97 at about 9:45 p.m.

“A southbound Pontiac Bonneville was making a left turn onto Ross Road when it was struck on the passenger side by a northbound Lexus SC40,” said RCMP Cnst. Kris Clark.

“A 46-year-old West Kelowna woman in the passenger seat of the Pontiac was likely killed instantly,” said Clark.

A West Kelowna man, 44, and a 22-year-old Quesnel man were both taken to hospital with potential life threatening injuries, according to Clark. Both of the men remained in hospital Monday morning with serious injuries.

Clark said speed and aggressive driving appear to be factors in the collision. An investigation into the crash is ongoing and RCMP are not sure if any charges will be recommended.

The front end of a Mercedes C280 shows significant damage after it hit a traffic light standard in Kelowna. (Photo: RCMP)

That’s the way the Mercedes bends

A Mercedes C280 took out a traffic light in Kelowna over the weekend and it appears the car was driven by a man who does not have a valid driver’s licence.

The crash took place at 2:45 a.m. Saturday morning at the intersection of Hwy. 97 and Sexsmith Road. Police were initially called about debris blocking the highway.

Police found that a traffic light had been struck and that debris from it, as well as debris from a vehicle, was blocking the northbound highway lane.

“The vehicle was gone but it was not anonymous, as it left behind its front bumper, including the plate,” said Clark.

The licence plate turned out to be registered to a 22-year-old Kelowna man for a grey Mercedes C280, according to Clark.

“Police located the vehicle on Edwards Road with damage consistent with the collision,” Clark said.

The owner of the Mercedes did not have a valid driver’s licence and is now facing a two-month driving prohibition as well as violation tickets for leaving the scene of a collision.

Pickup goes off road, catches fire

Sunday afternoon police were called to the scene of a vehicle fire in the 1000 Block of Bear Creek Road. Fire crews were extinguishing the flames when police arrived.

A 44-year-old man from West Kelowna was driving a Ford F150 pickup truck northbound when he apparently swered to miss an oncoming vehicle due to the narrow roadway, said Clark.

“The truck left the road and clipped a tree, sending it spinning into another tree,” said Clark. “All five occupants were able to escape the truck, which susequently caught fire.”

The truck’s driver suffered a broken leg, while the other four occupants suffered minor injuries. All were taken to Kelowna General Hospital for treatment.

Clark said speed may have been a factor in the case but no charges have yet been forwarded.