233067
232830

Kelowna  

Wild ride, wild takedown

UPDATE: 12:50 p.m.

An off-duty police officer took a suspect into custody Monday morning, following a wild string of crashes that began with a stolen truck in Armstrong.

Police say the white Ford F-150 was involved in a string of hit-and-run collisions between Lake Country and Kelowna before the arrest was made in Rutland.

About 6:30 a.m., Kelowna RCMP began to receive numerous reports about an erratic and dangerous driver who fled the scene of a rollover collision on Highway 97, near Beaver Lake Road.

As calls poured in, an off duty officer witnessed the driver commit another offence.

The suspect fled from the truck on the 400 block of Gerstmar Road, and got into a physical struggle with the officer.

Police have confirmed the truck was reported stolen from Armstrong.

Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says police are interviewing a dozen witnesses and victims.

Officers have yet to positively identify the young adult male in custody, who could face several charges. 

Any additional witnesses are asked to call Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300.


UPDATE: 10 a.m.

A Castanet reader is providing more detail on a scary road rage incident this morning.

The eyewitness who has requested anonymity out of fear the driver may come looking for him, says he saw the beginning of the incident, just before 6:30 a.m., at the border of Kelowna and Lake Country.

A newer, white Ford pickup apparently "plowed through cars at the intersection of Beaver Lake Road and Highway 97 and then used the left-turn lane to pass everyone and run through the red light."

The witness says farther down the road, there was a line of smashed cars along with a trailer with a side-by-side quad flipped over in the middle of the highway.

"Not sure how it started, but that white Ford was doing everything it could to make his getaway," he said, "dragging car parts down the road, and his passenger side door was almost ripped right off."

This incident was also witnessed by multiple Castanet readers. If you witnessed the event you are also asked to contact the RCMP.


ORIGINAL: 8:12 a.m.

An incident of road rage looks like it ended in a break down near Leathead and Hollywood roads in Kelowna this morning.

Emergency crews responded to a hit and run incident that allegedly happened just before 8 a.m.

After a collision in which one driver sped off, the other vehicle tried to follow and get a licence plate number, but wound up breaking down near Leathead and Hollywood.

Crews are on scene, eastbound traffic is slow by Ben Lee park as of 8:11 a.m.



More Kelowna News