Photo: Mike Volkwyn

UPDATE: 2:50 p.m.

A victim of Sunday night's drug-fuelled crash wants people to know the driver sent his children to hospital.

According to the dad, he, his wife, his two-year-old son and one-year-old daughter were sitting in their SUV at the red light when, out-of-nowhere, they were struck from behind. 

“We got hit pretty hard,” says the dad, who asked not to be identified. 

“The guy came in, no brakes or attempts to stop or nothing, going 80 or 90 km/h and hit us. He side-swiped two cars in the left lane and then hit us in right lane, then bounced into a camper and pushed the camper forward 20 feet.” 

He says his family was hit so hard that their car was pushed into the car ahead of him and then pushed into the other lane. 

“We got bounced 30 feet off to right and hit the car in front of us, so we ended up in the right turning lane.” 

The dad says he didn't even see the accident coming. 

“We were stopped at the light and the first thing I heard was my own back window getting popped out. I couldn't even steer because the whole back axel was torn off our Jeep – it was crazy, just totally crazy.” 

While he was too focused on his children's well-being to confront the driver, he says he heard another driver yelling at the man that it was all his fault. 

The father says his family is suffering from non-life-threatening injuries, but feeling the effects, as there are several cases of whiplash, but no broken bones. 

ORIGINAL

A total of eight vehicles were involved in a pileup Sunday afternoon, that sent two individuals to hospital and one man to a jail cell.

On May 29 at 12:25 p.m., Kelowna RCMP responded to a report of pileup on Highway 97 near the intersection of McCurdy Road.

According to Const. Jesse O’Donaghey, police have determined from witnesses at the scene, that the driver of a blue Ford Explorer was travelling south down the centre of the highway at a high rate of speed.

The driver of the Explorer, who reportedly did not make any attempts to slow or stop, sideswiped and rear ended a total of seven other vehicles, all of which were stopped at a red light at the intersection of McCurdy Road and Highway 97.

“A witness at the scene immediately stopped to check on the driver of the Ford Explorer who appeared 'out of it.' The witness remained with the driver until police arrived on scene,” says O’Donaghey.

“Officers at the scene detected signs and symptoms of suspected drug intoxication.”

As a result, the driver was taken to the Kelowna RCMP detachment where a drug recognition expert was called in to conduct a drug influence evaluation.

“As many as seven vehicle occupants, of the 15 total occupants, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at the scene by emergency health services,” adds O’Donaghey.

“Of those seven, a man and a woman were transported to hospital for further assessment and treatment for non-life threatening injuries.”

The driver, a 45-year-old Kelowna man, faces potential drug-impaired driving charges, as well as charges under the Motor Vehicle Act for driving without a valid licence.

He was later released and is expected to appear in court at a later date.

If you witnessed this crash and have not yet spoken to police, you are asked to contact the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.

Photo: Mike Volkwyn