Updated: Drunk Albertan behind Beach Ave. hit & run

Update (August 8). . . A drunk Alberta tourist was behind a hit and run incident at Beach Avenue and Todd Road Monday night.

“A lone male occupant, later determined to be from Alberta and vacationing in the Kelowna area, had apparently been driving his Audi Q7 at a high rate of speed through Peachland while impaired,” said RCMP Cpl. Barbara Holley.

The Audi clipped a grey sedan in front of Lakeshore Gardens then continued north on Beach Avenue where it collided with another vehicle, according to RCMP.

“It was miraculous no one injured as a result of this incident,” said Holley.

The driver of the Audi, described as a 35-year-old man from Calgary, was apprehended by citizens on Beach Avenue and held for police.

“The man was brought to the West Kelowna RCMP Detachment for breath samples where he admitted to consuming a large quantity of alcohol prior to the crash,” Holley said.

Initially the Audi driver said he would provide breath samples but later he refused to do so.

“He was held in Kelowna cells until sober and released on a Promise to Appear for Court at a later date,” said Holley.

RCMP is asking that any witnesses to the incident who have not yet spoken to police call Cnst. Kent Hall of West Kelowna RCMP at 250.768.2880.

This car suffered damage Monday night after a speeding Audi Q7 SUV clipped it on Beach Avenue, in front of Lakeshore Gardens. (Dave Preston photo)

by Dave Preston

RCMP is investigating a high speed hit and run that took place Monday night on Beach Avenue.

Details are few and RCMP on scene after the incident declined to comment, however PeachlandNews.com has pieced together at least part of the story.

According to several accounts, a black Audi Q7 SUV was heading north on Beach Avenue at a high rate of speed. One witness referred to the Audi’s rate of speed as “extreme”.

The speed limit on Beach Avenue is 30 km/h.

The Audi sped past the Trepanier Creek bridge and clipped the curb to the right of its lane. The Audi may have become airborne before careening into a four-door, grey sedan parked next to the beach in front of Lakeshore Gardens.

The Audi then apparently accelerated as it went past the Lakeshore Gardens condos.

One witness said she heard a large bang. She looked outside and saw a southbound, white car pull a U-turn on Beach Avenue in order to chase the Audi. Another person said he heard that several people from the condos ran after the Audi on foot.

Unconfirmed reports are that citizens were able to stop the Audi and hold the young male driver until police arrived.

At about 9:30 p.m., a flatbed tow truck was seen on Beach Avenue loaded with a black Audi Q7. Another tow truck arrived to take away the grey sedan that had been hit.

The grey car suffered severe damage to the rear section of the driver’s side. Bits and pieces of signal and/or brake lights could be found scattered across the road up to 50 metres away from where the grey car was parked.