Police watchdog agency to probe injury-causing crash

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. will look into if police actions — or inactions — were linked to a man being injured in a four vehicle crash in West Kelowna Monday night.

“Shortly after 6 p.m. on September 23, RCMP observed a prohibited driver in breach of his conditions driving towards West Kelowna via the Bennett Bridget. A member of the Kelowna Regional RCMP, in his marked police vehicle, attempted to stop the suspect vehicle as it took the exit to Westside Road on the west side of the bridge. The vehicle failed to stop and continued driving away from police,” said a news release from Dawn Roberts, B.C. RCMP Communications.

The suspect vehicle crashed about a half a kilometre away along Highway 97 near Boucherie Road in a collision involving three other vehicles.

“A trapped male driver was rescued and taken to Kelowna General Hospital with serious injuries. The drivers of the three other vehicles were not seriously injured,” said Roberts.

The crash closed the route for three hours.

Kelowna Regional RCMP investigation into this portion of the incident is ongoing. Police are asking for any witnesses or individuals
with information that have not yet spoken to police to contact the Kelowna Regional RCMP at 250-768-2880.