Okanagan widow sues Area 27 over crash that killed her husband

An Okanagan woman is taking the company behind a private race track to court after her husband died in a crash.

Kari Roach is claiming Area 27 was negligent in maintaining the track before her husband, Conor Roach, struck a concrete barrier on June 5, 2024.

She filed the lawsuit last week, two years after his death on the South Okanagan race track, naming South Okanagan Motorsports Corporation, the Osoyoos Indian Band, a driving instructor and three other businesses as defendants.

Conor Roach, 32, was driving a 2003 Mitsubishi Lancer at the members-only motorsports track located on Osoyoos Indian Band reserve land. At the time, police said an experienced driver lost control in a braking zone of the first turn before leaving the track.

He and a passenger, who hasn’t been identified, died in the crash.

An online fundraiser for Kari, who was pregnant at the time, collected nearly $70,000 after her husband’s death.

Her lawsuit claims Area 27 failed to maintain the track and breached its statutory duty to ensure Conor’s safety. It further launches similar claims against the Osoyoos Indian Band and an unnamed driving instructor, along with three businesses alleged to have been negligent.

According to the court document, further evidence of the claims are expected to come out at trial. They are not detailed in the notice of claim.

Area 27 general manager Karla Watmough said they were not aware of the document and would not comment. Osoyoos Indian Band did not respond to a request for comment.

The claims have not been proven in court.