Crash clogs Dump Hill

Photo: Google Maps

UPDATE: 11:56 a.m.

RCMP say four people injured in a collision that closed Highway 97, by the Birnie road turnoff, around 11:30 am Monday are all from the Greater Vernon area.

A southbound car on the highway struck a pickup truck that was making a lefthand turn from the landfill site, say police.

A 78-year-old man and 76-year-old woman in the car were taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital with broken bones.

The 65-year-old male driver of the truck and a woman passenger,67, suffered minor injuries.

Police say the pickup truck driver was charged with failure to yield under the Motor Vehicle Act.

UPDATE: 3:37 p.m.

North Okanagan RCMP say four people went to hospital following a two-vehicle accident just before noon Monday.

The accident occurred when a small truck turned onto Highway 97, from Birnie Road, colliding with a southbound car, say police. 

The two people in the car suffered broken bones while the two in the truck had minor injuries, according to a spokesperson.

Police say the male driver of the truck has been charged under the Motor Vehicle Act for failing to yield after stopping.

The accident backed up highway traffic heading to Kelowna for less than an hour, police say.

ORIGINAL

A two-vehicle accident on Highway 97 by the Birnie Road turnoff has sent a number of people to hospital with unconfirmed injuries, according to Vernon Fire Rescue.

The spokesperson had no further information.

The crash occurred sometime before noon Monday, by the turnoff to the Vernon landfill site.

It has caused a major slowdown of vehicles headed for Kelowna.

A Drive BC website camera shows a long line of waiting southbound vehicles, stretching down the hill toward Vernon.