UPDATE: Crash on Highway 97 claims a life
KELOWNA – The crash between a semi and a SUV on Highway 97 north of the Kelowna Airport Sunday afternoon claimed the life of the driver of the SUV.
The highway was closed for three hours after the head-on crash around 2 p.m. 4 kilometres north of Airport Way, according to RCMP, causing a major traffic headache for Christmas shoppers.
“Initial reports indicate a white SUV in the southbound lanes crossed into the northbound lanes colliding with a semi tractor trailer,” Sgt. Brad Swecra said in a media release. “A RCMP traffic analyst conducting an investigation.”
Traffic heading north on the highway was detoured to Glenmore Road via Sexsmith Road, while southbound traffic was detoured to Glenmore Road in Winfield, according to Drive B.C.
Commenters at Infonews.ca say traffic control was handled badly by police.
"What is so pathetic is how the police failed to help traffic more effectively on the detour. No one was policing the intersection in Winfield so hundreds and hundreds of cars were backed up because of a traffic light that only allowed minimal traffic to turn left onto the highway heading north," says Esther Baart. "Such poor policing. Surprised there were no accidents on the detour on one of the busiest days of travelling before Christmas."
The highway reopened at about 5 p.m. but traffic was so congested it hours to clear the backlog, both on Highway 97 and Glenmore Road.
There are unconfirmed reports the woman behind the wheel of the SUV died in the crash. The RCMP haven't immediately returned phone calls.
Jessica Taylor, who was stuck in traffic before turning around in Lake Country and taking Glenmore, said she saw lots of emergency vehicles go by on their way to the crash.
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To contact the reporter for this story, email Howard Alexander at halexander@infonews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
– This story was updated at 2:01 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20. 2014 to add an estimated time of the highway opening.
– This story was updated at 2:39 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 to add comments from the RCMP and to add a photo.
– This story was updated at 4:05 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 to change estimated time of opening to 5 p.m.
– This story ws updated at 5:05 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 to say the highway had reopened.
– This story was updated at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 21, 2014 to add more details about the crash.
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14 responses
People are so selfish.
:(
Seriously, this is a terrible story. This woman has a story. Bad traffic is not the Headline of her life. This is what some of her friends and family will read (and have read).
Thank you, I know this family, the woman did have children, two little girls who will be without their mother on Christmas, along with a husband, a sister, nieces, nephews and many other family members who loved her very much. So before everyone starts bitching about the long wait that inconvenienced them, think about the family that will never be the same. And in regards to the below comment, yes, there are many idiot drivers but you do not have the facts of this particular event, for all you know this woman’s vehicle could have malfunctioned, she could have hit ice, or many other factors could have caused this tragic event to take place.
I totally agree!I was desapointed in the lack of Policing on this busy day! Poor job!!
People need to remember that driving a vehicle takes concentration…ALL your concentration…I believe that the responsibility we take away from the drivers ( dividers) only compounds the problem…put the blame where it belongs…it’s not the hiway…it’s not the vehicle…it’s the idiot behind DRIVING the vehicle!
We were caught in this huge delay while trying to get back to Kamloops–only one traffic controller to divert us to Glenmore, then no one during the next 2 hours while we inched along.Lack of policing at intersections was a real concern.Very frustrating! Kelowna has to do better than this!
Have you thought that maybe the regional district or Lake Country should have put out traffic controllers – instead of blaming the cops who do have other work other than directing traffic ?
What is so pathetic is how the police failed to help traffic more effectively on the detour…no one was policing the intersection in Winfield so hundreds and hundreds of cars are backed up because of a traffic light that only allowed minimal traffic to turn left onto the highway heading north….such poor policing…surprised there were no accidents on the detour….on one of the busiest days of travelling before Christmas..
people need to slow down.
if people put their cell pnones in their pockets and left them therr while they are driving we as tax payers would not need to fund dividersMost of the needless accidents are caused by peole and cell phoes.
texting again?
Meridians please!
How many deadly accidents have to occur before the highways Ministry and the RCMP do something?