Police allege drug-impaired driver crashed twice in hit and run | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

Police allege drug-impaired driver crashed twice in hit and run

Traffic was tied up for hours Wednesday night after a crash at Harvey and Gordon.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Adam Proskiw

KELOWNA - Police have one man in custody after a trail of destruction around Highway 97 and Gordon Drive last night. 

Emergency crews were on scene in the area for hours after police say a "potentially drug impaired" driver went through an intersection, hit another vehicle and took off again until it hit the highway centre median, finally stopping when it hit a tree.

It all happened around 6:30 p.m. last night, Oct. 24. The 47-year-old man was driving a silver Toyota Corolla, travelling southbound on the highway, went through the intersection with Gordon Drive and hit a blue Dodge Calibre legally crossing the highway.

Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says the Corolla driver then "fled" eastbound along the highway, but didn't get far before colliding with the median and the tree. He had to be extracted from the vehicle by Kelowna Fire Department. A driver and passenger in the Calibre sustained "non-life threatening injuries" and the driver was taken to hospital "as a precaution."

“During their interaction with the driver at the scene, specially trained investigators of the RCMP detected symptoms of suspected drug impairment," O'Donaghey says. "As a result, a demand was made which required the driver to submit to a Drug Recognition Expert evaluation."

He now faces a number of potential impaired driving related criminal charges.

Collision investigators of the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Section are asking additional witnesses to come forward. If you witnessed either crash and have not yet spoken to police you are urged to contact the Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Section at 250-762-3300.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Marshall Jones or call 250-718-2724 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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