High speed drivers in South Okanagan end up crashing their cars

PENTICTON – In two seperate case, lead-footed drivers initially avoided Penticton RCMP but ended up crashing their cars.

Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police received numerous noise complaints around 11 p.m., last Thursday, Sept. 29, about a high performance vehicle engine revving in the vicinity of Allendale Lake Road near Okanagan Falls.

He says the officer on the way to check out the complaints was passed by a red Corvette, which sped off at a high speed following the police contact. Police did not give chase, but later came across a downed power pole on Allendale Lake Road with the Corvette nearby in the middle of a field with no sign of the occupants.

The incident continues to be investigated.

Then on Saturday, Oct. 1, at around 7:30 p.m., Wrigglesworth says police were called about a Pontiac Grand Am being driven at high speed down Green Mountain Road.

When responding officer came across the vehicle, the driver took off at speeds of about 140 kilometres per hour. Police did not pursue the vehicle, but came across it an hour later after it went off the road and hit a fence while rounding a curve.

A woman at the scene admitted to driving the car but was otherwise uncooperative with police, Wrigglesworth says. The vehicle was impounded and the driver charged with several motor vehicle infractions.


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Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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