Abandoned vehicle in Penticton triggers futile search

PENTICTON – A vehicle which appeared to be abandoned in Penticton last night triggered an extensive search by emergency personnel to find its owner.

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says a vehicle was found on the east side of the Channel Parkway just south of Warren Avenue around 10 p.m., Aug. 22.

The windows were down, the vehicle's lights were on and the windshield wipers were going, he says. Plus the low fuel light was lit on the dashboard.

Wrigglesworth says the vehicle was full of personal property and the registered owner of the vehicle was nowhere to be found.

Police searched the area for signs of a struggle, checking ditches and bushes along the roadway. An extensive search of the channel was initiated all the way to Skaha Lake, involving the Penticton Fire Department and its rescue boat. A police dog was brought in as well to search the east side of the channel but nothing was found.

Several addresses were checked in Naramata for the registered owner and in Oliver gas stations were checked with regard to someone getting gas with jerry cans, he says.

Wriggleworth says the owner of the vehicle turned up this morning and had his vehicle released to him.

RCMP provided no explanation for the driver’s absence.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 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.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.