A car was destroyed by fire on Hwy. 97C, the Connector, Monday morning, causing traffic chaos as long weekend travelers tried to get leave the Okanagan for home. Reports are that traffic was tied up in the westbound highway lanes for hours. (Photo: Derek Beer)
by Dave Preston
On one of the busiest days of the year for drivers leaving the Okanagan Valley, a major highway was shutdown for hours due to a vehicle fire.
No fire department was called to the scene of the raging fire, in favor of allowing the fire to burn itself out, while hundreds of motorists found themselves tuck on Hwy. 97C.
A 911 call was made at about 11:37 a.m. Monday, according to RCMP, which responded to the scene on the Connector.
A Cadillac was found burning approximately two kilometres east of Brenda Mine in one of the westbound highway lanes.
“Both westbound lanes were closed until the fire disappaited enough to open one lane,” said Cpl. Amanda Jones of West Kelowna RCMP.
According to reports sent to the PeachlandNews.com Twitter and Facebook accounts, it took hours for traffic to even begin crawling along on the highway.
Shortly before 3 p.m., Jones reported that the second westbound highway lane would open in “two to three hours, after the vehicle has cooled down enough to be towed.”
“There were no injuries in this incident,” said Jones. “Vehicle overheated due to the extreme heat and caught fire.”
The Monday of the August long weekend is usually a very busy day on area highways as visitors head home from a weekend in the Okanagan.
- Excited
- Informed
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
The article says hundreds of motorists were stuck…it was more like thousands….
I think you are right, Donna.