Emergency crews are urging caution to motorists driving Highway 97 today, Dec. 27, 2017, after several motor vehicle incidents were reported, including this one which took place north of Summerland this morning.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED- Cassandra Johnson
Republished December 27, 2017 - 6:11 PM
Original Publication Date December 27, 2017 - 11:56 AM
PENTICTON - Emergency personnel are issuing a warning to motorists to slow down and drive according to conditions as Penticton and Summerland emergency crews continue to deal with a steady stream of motor vehicle incidents today.
Summerland RCMP spokesperson Const. Aaron Muzzerall says he has attended to four collisions personally today, with a fifth call coming in around 6 p.m.
"Road conditions are treacherous today, and they're getting worse. In the past hour it's gone from slippery to very icy," he says, adding the crashes he has attended so far resulted in three minor incidents and one serious crash, resulting in one victim being sent to hospital in Kelowna.
Muzzerall says he is clocking people driving 90 to 100 kilometres per hour on road they shouldn't be doing anything beyond "80 at best."
"People are just not slowing down, and they're going to cause some serious headaches for some nice people," he says.
Penticton Deputy Fire Chief Chris Forster said earlier today the Penticton Fire Department responded to a call on Highway 97 earlier today, Dec. 27
"I understand conditions are quite icy. Summerland has dealt with a number of calls, generally in the 17000 to 19000 block of Highway 97. Obviously there seems to be an issue with the highway there. I do know the roads have some issues with them now,” he says.
“We’ve had numerous accidents on Highway 97 this morning, which indicates road conditions are deteriorating and motorists need to slow down according to conditions,” Forster added.
Drive B.C. is reporting Highway 97 covered with compact snow from the border in Osoyoos to the junction of Highway 97 C, with slippery sections from Summerland to the Highway 97 C junction.
Environment Canada is calling for two centimetres of snow tonight, with an additional two to four cm expected Thursday.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017