UPDATE: Legion president injured in Highway 97 crash

KELOWNA – A car crash on Highway 97 near Old Vernon Road in Kelowna this morning seriously injured three people, including two members of the Royal Canadian Legion.

Branch 26 president Syd Pratt and member Frank Truman were on their way to a Flag Day event at the Lakeview Memorial Cemetery, Lynda Wachter the Legion's manager says.

Shortly after 10 a.m., May 8, the car Pratt and Truman were in tried to make a u-turn and was t-boned by a pickup truck, RCMP say.

“The male driver of the car was extricated from the vehicle by the Kelowna Fire Department,” Cpl. Joe Duncan says in a media release. “The male passenger was also removed and both were transported to hospital with very serious injuries.”

Duncan says the woman driving the pickup was able to get out of her vehicle, but was also taken to Kelowna General Hospital with serious injuries.

The highway was closed for almost two hours, and reopened at around 12:30 p.m., according to Drive B.C.

No charges have been laid or tickets issued as officers continue to investigate, although speed and alcohol have been ruled out as contributing factors, Duncan says.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash and has not yet spoken with police, is asked to contact the Kelowna Municipal Traffic Services RCMP at 250-980-5353.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infonews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

—This story was updated at 12:42 p.m., May 8, 2015 to say the highway reopened. 

— This story was updated at 3:19 p.m., May 8, 2015 to add information about Legion members.