Photo: Jon Manchester

RCMP say a serious collision south of Enderby Friday evening claimed one life and left two other people in critical condition.

Police are investigating the multi-vehicle collision on Highway 97A, which happened about 5:15 p.m.

The highway was closed in both directions for seven hours as emergency personnel worked at the scene.

A member of the RCMP's Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Services completed a detailed examination of the scene.

"An initial investigation has determined the chain-reaction collision, which occurred near the intersection of Stepney Cross Road, was triggered when a small Honda Prelude, travelling northbound on Highway 97A, crossed the centre line and struck another passenger vehicle travelling in the opposite direction," says North Okanagan RCMP spokesperson Const. Chris Terleski.

"The Honda then collided head on with a second vehicle travelling southbound, a red GMC Jimmy. After coming to rest, the GMC was then broadsided by a northbound pickup."

The driver of the Jimmy was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The passenger of the GMC and the driver of the Honda were rushed to hospital by ambulance with serious, life-threatening injuries and remain in critical condition.

"While the factors leading to the collision are still under investigation, a dense fog that settled in the area had reduced visibility to nearly zero at the time of the crash," says Terleski.