Crash closes Hwy 33

UPDATE: 9:15 p.m.

An on-duty RCMP officer, and member of the police dog section, was taken to KGH with what are described as serious, non-life threatening injuries following Monday's crash on Highway 33 near Loseth Drive.

Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says the officer was responding to a priority call when he collided with the semi.

“The Kelowna RCMP Municipal Traffic Section has taken charge of the collision investigation, which is in it’s very early stages,” says O’Donaghey.

“Due to the extent of the damage caused to the police SUV, fire fighters required the jaws of life to safely extricate the experienced police officer from the passenger compartment.”

O'Donaghey says the officer's K9 partner was pulled from the wreckage by fellow officers and taken to a local vet for further assessment.

The driver of the semi was assessed at the scene and taken to hospital as a precaution.

Police have yet to state what caused the collision.

Witnesses who have not spoken with police are asked to contact the Kelowna detachment at 250-762-3300.

The eastbound lanes are expected to remain closed until about 11:30 while collision reconstructionists examine the scene.

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UPDATE: 9 p.m.

According to DriveBC, the eastbound lanes of Highway 33 at Loseth Road will remain closed for the rest of the evening.

The road is expected to reopen at about 11:30 p.m.

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UPDATE: 7:30 p.m.

Police have set up yellow tape across the eastbound lane of Highway 33 around the scene of Monday's crash.

Officers on the scene say the road will be closed for an undetermined period of time. Eastbound traffic is being rerouted or turned around.

Castanet has learned the owner of the semi involved in the crash lived at the home attached to the driveway where the vehicles ended up.

The officer involved in the collision was taken to Kelowna General Hospital with undetermined injuries.

Police on scene wouldn't comment of the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Castanet has reached out to the proper channels for further information.

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UPDATE: 6:50 p.m.

The crash on Highway 33 is between a police Suburban SUV and a semi.

The vehicles came to rest in a driveway.

It's not yet known what caused the collision.

The police officer has been extricated from the SUV, which has heavy front-end damage.

– with files from Wayne Moore

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ORIGINAL: 6:35 p.m.

A serious crash between a semi and at least one other vehicle has closed down eastbound lanes of Highway 33 in the Black Mountain area of Kelowna.

The crash is apparently in the area of Loseth Road.

One person is believed to be trapped in the smaller vehicle.

Castanet's Wayne Moore will update from the scene.

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