UPDATE: Province’s police watchdog investigating serious Kelowna car crash

KELOWNA – B.C.’s police watchdog has been called in to investigate a serious car crash in Kelowna early this morning.

The RCMP notified the Independent Investigations Office of B.C. just after 3 a.m. today, June 20, about a crash that happened during a routine patrol by one of its officers on Highway 33, spokesperson Sgt. Annie Linteau says in a media release.

The officer watched a vehicle go past him in the opposite direction at a high rate of speed, and turned around to keep observing the vehicle and its erratic movements, Linteau says.

“The vehicle ultimately crossed into oncoming lanes and struck a wall. Three occupants were ejected from the vehicle and the officer immediately called for assistance. Three occupants and the driver were transported to hospital with what are believed to be serious injuries. No other persons were injured in the incident,” Linteau says.

She does not say what happened between the time the officer turned around and the moment of the crash.

The scene was closed off and Kelowna Municipal Traffic Services were called in to investigate the collision. The area around Highway 33 and Highway 97 are impacted by the collision and traffic was rerouted for most of the day.

“The Independent Investigation Office of B.C. have been notified and will determine if there is any link between police actions and the motor vehicle collision,” Linteau says.

Because the crash is now under investigation by the Independent Investigations Office, no further information will be released by police, Linteau says. Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the Independent Investigations Office at 1-855-446-8477.

— This story was updated at 11:50 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2018, to add information from the RCMP and at 3:10 p.m. to say the highway had reopened.

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