Stolen van takes off after accident on Highway 97 in Kelowna

KELOWNA – There wasn’t much point in waiting around for the police.

Kelowna RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said a press release a mini-van that fled from the scene of an accident on Highway 97 this afternoon turned out to be stolen once recovered.

Police say an RCMP member responded around noon today, Jan. 4, to a collision between a grey Mazda MVP mini-van and Honda Pilot at Harvey Avenue and Dilworth Drive.

The driver of the Honda received minor injuries, but police say the mini-van took off toward Springfield Road.

The RCMP helicopter was called in as officers flooded the area after reports came in of a badly damaged van driving around with smoke pouring from it.

A short while later a 45-year-old Kelowna man was arrested near the east end of Lawrence Avenue, O’Donaghey added.

The mini-van had been reported to RCMP in Kelowna as stolen on Jan. 3 from a location in the 2400 block of Highway 97. Police say the vehicle had reportedly been left idling and unattended momentarily when it was taken.

If you witnessed this incident and have not yet spoken to police you are asked to contact Const. Carl Stene at 250-762-3300.

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