Two taken to hospital after Mercedes crashes while fleeing Kelowna RCMP

Two people are lucky to be alive after crashing a vehicle while fleeing Kelowna RCMP last night.

Officers were patrolling the Ellison Lake area where they spotted the black Mercedes driving "well under" the Highway 97 speed limit, according to a Kelowna RCMP news release. It was also swerving between lanes.

Police tried to stop the vehicle just before midnight, May 31, but it drove off at a "dangerously" high speed, RCMP said.

The officer lost sight of the car until coming upon a large dust cloud and debris on the highway near the John Hindle Drive exit, quickly realizing the car crashed into the ditch.

The passenger was seriously injured after being ejected from the car, while the driver was trapped inside. Both are in stable condition after they were taken to hospital.

Kelowna RCMP closed Highway 97 while they investigate the scene and reconstruct the collision. DriveBC said a detour is available. No word on when the route will reopen. For the latest updates on the road's status, go to DriveBC here.

Police did not say whether alcohol was a factor in the collision.

“This collision is a prime example of the dangers of excessive speeding on British Columbia roadways. These two individuals are extremely lucky to have survived and have a long, difficult recovery ahead,” Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Const. Mike Della-Paolera said in the release.

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