Updated: 2 dead, 2 critical after Princeton Ave. crash

Update (October 19, 2012). . . Three of four people involved in a fatal collision west of Peachland Thursday night were teenagers, according to information received by Kelowna RCMP.

RCMP is now confirming that the driver of the vehicle, who died at the scene, was a 20-year-old male from Peachland. A 17-year-old female from West Kelowna was also pronounced deceased at the scene.

Two people taken to Kelowna General Hospital in critical condition were a 19-year-old Peachland man and a 16-year-old female from West Kelowna. RCMP was not yet able to provide an update as to the medical status of the two injured passengers.

“The cause of the crash is not yet known but police continue to investigate and are assisting the BC Coroner’s Service,” said Cnst. Kris Clark. “According to the initial scene assessment, road condition appears to have been a factor.”

Peachland firefighters stand at the scene of a double-fatal accident on Princeton Avenue Thursday night involving a 1995 Chev 4×4 pickup truck (seen upside down on the left). (Dave Preston photo)

by Dave Preston

Two Westside young adults are dead and two are in critical condition after a horrific accident on Princeton Avenue late Thursday night.

The deceased were described by RCMP at the scene as a male and female in their early 20s. One was a Peachland resident, while the other was West Kelowna.

The accident happened about two kilometres west of the ZipZone Adventure Park on Princeton Avenue.

Five police cars, three ambulances and two fire trucks attended the scene. A raised 1995 Chev 4×4 pickup truck lay upside down in the eastbound ditch, while the surrounding roadway was littered with debris.

The truck was traveling in a westbound direction, according to Sgt. Brian Nightingale, a collision reconstruction analyst with the RCMP.

Tire marks in the middle of Princeton Avenue, which is gravel for several kilometres on each side of the accident scene, told part of the tale for Nightingale.

“The truck was coming off this long sweeping curve,” said Nightingale. “The tire marks tell me that the vehicle started to rotate in a counterclockwise direction.”

Sliding sideways on the gravel, the truck eventually rolled and tumbled, according to Nightingale.

The deceased female was partially ejected from the truck, while the deceased male was found on the road.

“It looks like they were not wearing seatbelts,” said Nightingale.

It is not known if alcohol played a role in the crash but RCMP told media that speed may have been a factor.

Nightingale said police could not confirm immediately who was the driver, since no one was in the driver’s seat when first responders arrived.

“It’s something we’re going to have to look at,” he said.

Both deceased are 20 to 21-years-old and the two patients taken to Kelowna General Hospital were also in that age range, according to Nightingale.

The two taken by ambulance to hospital were in critical condition.

“We don’t know the time of the accident,” said Nightingale.

A witness drove up the road to Brenda Mine. Nightingale said the witness came upon the accident scene when he drove back toward Peachland. The witness had to drive further down Princeton Avenue to near ZipZone to get a cell signal to call 911.