The driver of a BMW SUV crashed into bystanders and the Peachland library, Wednesday, April 6, 2017.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/RCMP
Republished April 06, 2017 - 10:34 AM
Original Publication Date April 06, 2017 - 8:26 AM
PEACHLAND - A man in his 50s is in critical condition after an SUV crashed into bystanders and a library in Peachland yesterday.
Around 4 p.m. yesterday, April 5, a blue BMW SUV drove through the pedestrian area in front of the the library on Clements Crescent in Peachland. It only stopped when it crashed through the library's front wall, according to a police press release. Witnesses told police the SUV had been driving through the parking lot before the pedestrian area.
Several people had been in the pedestrian area when the SUV drove through and five were injured to varying degrees, either by flying debris or the vehicle itself. One man is in critical condition after sustaining life threatening injuries.
“RCMP can now confirm that a 56-year-old Peachland man, who sadly had been directly in the path of the vehicle and was rushed to hospital in critical condition, remains in hospital at this time,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in a press release. “The victim has reportedly undergone emergency surgery overnight and is believed to be in serious however stable condition.”
The others injured in the accident, all women over the age of 65, have been released form hosptial.
The driver, a 71-year-old woman was also taken to hospital for assessment and has been released.
Police are investigating the cause, including a review of the vehicle.
“At this time there is no clear cause of this tragic incident,” O’Donaghey says. “The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to interview victims and independent witnesses at the scene.
Witnesses are asked to contact the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880.
— This story was updated at 9:54 a.m., Thursday, April 6, 2017 to with new information and a photo from the RCMP.
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