Alcohol factor in three-way collision at Kelowna intersection

KELOWNA – A Kelowna woman faces potential criminal charges after she was allegedly driving impaired and caused a three-vehicle collision Friday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to a report of a collision involving three vehicles in the intersection of Summit Drive and Glenmore Road in Kelowna on Oct. 26 at 3:25 p.m., according to a Kelowna RCMP media release.

Police found a grey Infinity Q60 SUV high centred on the cement median and a nearby traffic light standard sheered off.

Preliminary findings from information gathered at the scene suggest that the driver of the Infinity was travelling over the posted speed limit prior to colliding with a grey GMC Terrain waiting to turn left in the intersection, police say. A purple Honda Civic was also rear-ended in the chain-reaction crash.

“During interactions with the female driver of the Infinity at the scene, RCMP officers detected signs of suspected alcohol consumption,” Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says in the release. “A demand was made and a breath test was performed roadside, which the driver failed. She was subsequently detained and transported to the RCMP detachment where she provided additional samples of her breath, which were more than three times the legal limit.”

O’Donaghey says all three drivers were medically assessed at the scene by the B.C. Ambulance Service and the woman driving the GMC Terrain was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

A 36-year-old Kelowna woman faces potential impaired driving charges, and is expected in court on Jan. 14, 2019.

If you witnessed this crash, and have not yet spoken to police, you are asked to contact Const. Nadine Ricioppo of the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

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