Sneeze proves dangerous in rollover that closed Highway 97 in South Okanagan

PENTICTON – A  simple sneeze had serious consequences for the lone male driver involved in a single vehicle rollover on Highway 97 in the South Okanagan early this morning.

According to police, the man's sneeze caused him to overcorrect, resulting in the rollover on Highway 97 north of Oliver around 4:30 a.m., Oct. 4.

Penticton RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wriggleworth says the 42-year-old man was taken to hospital with serious, but non life-threatening injuries after the vehicle he was driving hit the edge of the pavement, went off the road and rolled over on Highway 97 in the Vaseux Lake area approximately nine kilometres north of Oliver.

The highway was closed for about two hours.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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