Car fleeing police in Kelowna caused power outage after hitting pole

A person allegedly fleeing police, crashed into a power pole in Kelowna yesterday.

The incident happened at about 7:30 p.m. in the 700 block of Falkirk Road when police tried to pull over a grey Mercedes-Benz on the street. It fled at a high rate of speed and crashed into the pole with enough force to create a power outage and damage a nearby parked vehicle.

The driver, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, fled on foot and eluded the RCMP and a police dog.

"This driver unnecessarily put everyone in the area at risk with their dangerous behaviour," Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy, spokesperson for the Kelowna RCMP, said in a news release. "Especially given that they struck a power pole in a residential area, it is extremely fortunate that no one was seriously injured or even killed in this collision."

Anyone with information, including video footage, is asked to call Kelowna RCMP at 250-250-762-3300, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or by leaving a tip online at www.crimestoppers.net.

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