UPDATE: 3 Kelowna students killed in early morning car crash

Three Kelowna Secondary School students have died in a single-vehicle crash in Kelowna early this morning.

Just after midnight today, May 26, RCMP and BC Ambulance paramedics responded to a report of a single-vehicle collision in the intersection of Gordon Drive and Cook Road, according to an RCMP media release.

Officers arrived to find an extensively damaged black Honda Civic sedan and with three occupants.

The 18-year-old female driver, the 18-year-old male passenger and the 17-year-old female passenger were pronounced dead at the scene, RCMP said.

Central Okanagan Public Schools superintendent Kevin Kaardal confirmed the victims were all Grade 12 students at Kelowna Senior Secondary school.

Kelowna RCMP,  BC Highway Patrol and the BC Coroners Service are investigating.

Due to the privacy of the deceased, as per the Coroners Act, no further information will be released, RCMP said.

“The Kelowna RCMP wish to thank the public for their patience while Gordon Drive remained closed, as our investigators were on scene to collect evidence to assist in determining the cause of the collision,” RCMP spokesperson Const. Solana Paré said in a release. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family affected by this tragic collision. RCMP Victim Services are providing support to the witnesses, friends and family of the victims during this difficult time.”

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran said in an Instagram story this is the time to support one another.

"As a parent, getting that call in the middle of the night is your worst nightmare. Now these three families are living that nightmare," Basran said in the post. "So I'd ask that you please do what you can to send your love and strength and support to help them through this incredibly difficult time."

If you witnessed this collision and have not yet spoken to police, please contact the RCMP at 250-491-5354.

— This story was updated at 1:42 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 to include a comment from the Kelowna mayor.

— This story was updated at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 to include additional information from RCMP.

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