Winter road conditions keep North Okanagan RCMP busy with crashes

VERNON – Winter road conditions over the last 24 hours have led to eight vehicle crashes in the North Okanagan.

Officers responded to eight crashes in a 24-hour period from yesterday, Feb. 28 until today, largely due to snowy road conditions, according to an RCMP media release. One of the incidents involved multiple vehicles.

"Fortunately the incidents reported to police have all been minor in nature with no major injuries," Vernon RCMP spokesperson Const. Kelly Brett said in the release. "The cause of the collisions vary from poor road conditions, speed relative to conditions and following too closely to other vehicles." 

RCMP are reminding motorists that winter conditions with snow and ice can reduce visibility on the road and make it difficult to stop and steer, and advise drivers to slow down in poor weather conditions, increase your following distance and give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination.

RCMP would also like to remind drivers that police are only required to attend a motor vehicle collision if it results in an injury or death; is a hit-and-run, or if a criminal act, such a drunk driving has occurred. RCMP do not need to attend a motor vehicle incidents where only the vehicles have been damaged. Police say drivers can exchange information and report the incident directly to ICBC and no police file number is required.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ben Bulmer or call (250) 309-5230 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.