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Vernon  

Crash victim a nurse

UPDATE 10:30 A.M. OCT 24, 2014 

Vernon RCMP have now named the woman who lost her life after an alleged drunk driver crashed into her car, early Thursday morning.

33-year-old Erin Rae Smith of Kelowna was driving her car when she was struck by a 37-year-old Vernon woman police say was drunk behind the wheel.

Smith's passenger remains in Kelowna General Hospital in stable condition.

Both victims of the crash were nurses in the Okanagan and Gayle Duteil, President of the BC Nurses’ Union shared this message. 

“Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the victims involved in a vehicle crash in Vernon early Thursday.

We are deeply saddened that a nurse has lost her life in this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are also with the other nurse who was seriously injured.”
 

The woman driving the van, pictured above, has since been released from custody while RCMP put together their case.

“She has been released while our officers continue to piece together the facts of the case for consideration of Criminal charges by Crown Counsel,” says RCMP Spokesman Gord Molendyk.

The Vernon RCMP are now asking anyone who may have witnessed this accident at 30th Ave. and 32nd St. during the early morning hours of Oct 23, to please call them at the Vernon Detachment at  250-545-7171.


A Kelowna woman is dead, another is in serious condition in hospital while a third is in custody following a two vehicle crash in Vernon early Thursday morning.

According to police, officers responded to a two vehicle collision at the intersection of 30 Avenue and 32 Street at about 1:15 a.m.

The crash involved a Chevy Uplander and small Pontiac.

RCMP at the scene say the driver of the Pontiac, a Kelowna woman in her 30s died at the scene.

A female passenger in the vehicle, also in her 30s, was originally taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital with serious internal injuries.

She has since been transported to Kelowna General.

Police say the van was reportedly travelling eastbound on 30 Avenue where it blew through a red light and struck the car on the driver's door.

The Investigating officer made a determination that the driver of the van was under the influence of liquor and started an impaired driving investigation.

The driver of the van, a 37-year-old woman from Vernon, has been held for court today to answer to charges of Impaired Driving Causing Death and Impaired Driving Causing Bodily Harm.

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