Speeding Kelowna driver using cellphone nearly hit cop on highway

Two BC Highway Patrol officers were nearly struck by a speeding Kelowna man in a BMW on Highway 97 south of 100 Mile House. Police say he was reading a text message on his cellphone at the time.

The officers were in high-visibility vests and carrying stop signs with no other traffic on the road at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, according to an RCMP press release.

A 27-year-old Kelowna man, who was driving by himself, was going 145 km/h in a 110 km/h zone in a BMW. He nearly hit the officers on the highway while he was texting. One of the officers pursued the driver and hit him with some fines.

“A fully uniformed officer stepped onto the highway to stop the BMW driver. There should have been plenty of time and distance to stop,” BC Highway Patrol’s Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said in the release. “But it’s hard to see the police when you are reading a text message. That was the driver’s explanation.”

The man has been fined a total of $708 for speeding, using his phone while driving and failing to stop for police when signalled.

“RCMP officers are in the process of transitioning to body cameras, and when you drive by police, your actions will likely be recorded,” Cpl. McLaughlin said. “We are grateful the driver eventually stopped. This was a dangerous situation that could have ended much worse for both the police officers and the driver.”