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Kelowna  

Heroics on Harvey Ave.

Update: 7:43 a.m.

Citizens nearby the serious crash on Harvey Avenue Friday night sprang into action to help the victims before emergency crews arrived.

A witness at the scene said a man grabbed a fire extinguisher and began fighting a fire that had begun in a Chevrolet Impala, after it had collided with a Toyota pickup truck at Dilworth Drive.

"Had he not been there, that car would have definitely exploded," the witness said.

Others attempted to free the person inside the burning car, with one man using a baseball bat.

Police believe both people who were taken to hospital following the crash suffered non life-threatening injuries. 

Emergency crews were first alerted of the serious crash at 7:15 p.m.

They found a grey Toyota pickup on its roof and a white Chevrolet Impala smashed into a light pole.

Police believe the Impala was heading westbound on Harvey Avenue through Dilworth Drive, when the light turned yellow. The Toyota, heading eastbound on Harvey, made a left turn on Dilworth, and the Impala collided with the truck.

The pickup rolled onto its roof, while the Impala careened into the light pole.

Emergency crews were able to successfully extract the 20-year-old male driver of the Impala, and fully put out the car's engine fire.

Both the driver of the car and a 34-year-old female passenger in the truck were taken to hospital.

Charges have yet to be laid in the crash.


Update: 9 p.m.

Police are clearing the collision scene at Harvey Avenue and Dilworth drive.

Southbound lanes are expected to re-open in the next hour.

While emergency crews were investigating the two-vehicle crash, another incident occurred at Cooper Road and Harvey.

Witnesses say three vehicles were involved in the collision. It’s unclear if anyone sustained any injuries.

Traffic is slow going along Highway 97 in both directions near Orchard Park Mall.


Emergency crews rushed Friday night to a serious two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Harvey Avenue and Dilworth Drive.

A witness says she was inside Orchard Park Mall when she heard a loud explosion outside just before 7:30 p.m. She rushed out to see what happened.

A truck was overturned in the southbound lanes of Harvey Avenue. Meanwhile, another vehicle had crashed into the light fixture, and was reported to be on fire.

It’s unclear how many occupants were in the vehicles and what injuries were sustained. One person is reported to be taken to hospital.

Drivers are requested to avoid the area; however, northbound lanes remain open but slow going.

Southbound traffic headed toward West Kelowna is being re-routed towards Enterprise Way or Springfield road.

– With files from Troy Ryder



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