Sleeping driver crashes into Lake Country accident scene | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kelowna News

Sleeping driver crashes into Lake Country accident scene

Image Credit: FILE PHOTO

LAKE COUNTRY – A chain reaction collision at an accident site in Lake Country could have seriously injured two firefighters and an RCMP officer Sunday morning.

First responders were at the scene of a single vehicle crash on Highway 97 near the Pelmewash Parkway exit around 8:30 a.m. yesterday, Dec. 3. While waiting for a tow truck, a chain reaction collision occurred in the southbound lanes of Highway 97 north near the Pelmewash Parkway exit, according to an RCMP media release.

“The driver of a blue Dodge Ram pickup truck, reportedly broadsided and severely damaged a fire truck with its emergency lights activated at the crash scene, before it sideswiped a black Mazda pickup truck and struck an unoccupied black Dodge Dart,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release.

He says at least two firefighters from the Lake Country Volunteer Fire Department were directing traffic and forced to “dive out of the path” of the pickup.

“A snowmobile being transported by the Dodge Ram pickup truck launched nearly 30 feet from its truck bed and landed in the oncoming northbound lanes of the highway.”

The 23-year-old driver from the North Okanagan Shuswap area also narrowly missed striking a marked police cruiser with a Lake Country RCMP officer inside.

“RCMP have ruled out alcohol as a factor in the collision, however police believe the driver of that Dodge pickup truck may have fallen asleep behind the wheel prior to the crash,” O’Donaghey says.

He was not injured in the series of collisions but was issued several charges and fines totalling over $1,100.

If you witnessed this crash and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to contact the Lake Country RCMP Detachment at 250-766-2288.


To contact a reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw or call 250-718-0428 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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