Fatality on the Okanagan Connector

RCMP officers and members of the BC Coroners Service are investigating a single vehicle collision that killed a man Saturday evening between West Kelowna and Merritt.

At approximately 7:20 p.m Saturday evening, Merritt RCMP received a request to assist BC Emergency Health Services who had been called to a report of a single vehicle rollover collision along Highway 97C, the Okanagan Connector, near Sunset Main Road. Emergency first responders arrived on scene to find a white Dodge Ram pickup truck had veered off the freeway, struck a large highway sign and rolled down an embankment.

“The vehicle, which had four occupants, sustained heavy damage and came to final rest on its roof approximately 30 feet down an embankment,” Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, RCMP Southeast District said. “Despite the efforts of passerbys, first responders were needed to extricate two individuals from the heavily damaged vehicle.”

An occupant inside the vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene. Three other vehicle occupants were transported by Emergency Health Services to hospital.

The BC Coroners Service was notified, attended the collision scene and continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death.

Investigators believe poor weather and road conditions contributed to the crash. Police are also investigating whether or not speed relative to those conditions and inadequate tires also played a role in this fatal crash.

Police wish to speak to anyone who may have witnessed the collision.