'Going 200 km/h'

UPDATE: 11:30 a.m.

Three people were ejected from a vehicle and rushed to hospital after a high-speed crash at 3 a.m. this morning in Rutland.

A police officer was conducting routine patrol along Highway 33 when he observed a vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed drive by him in the opposite direction. 

RCMP report that the vehicle crossed into oncoming lanes and struck a wall.

Three people and the driver were rushed to the hospital with what are believed to be serious injuries. 

The area around Highway 33 and Highway 97 remains closed, and traffic is being re-routed.

At this time it's not known how long the roads will be closed for.

The Independent Investigation Office of BC is investigating and will determine if there is any link between police actions and the motor vehicle collision.

A witness at the scene saw the crash as it unfolded. 

"They lost it right at Gerstmar. The back end of the car took out the fence and they kept spinning down the highway. The RCMP estimated it was going 180 to 200 kilometers an hour," said witness Jordy Reeve. 

Anyone who witnessed this incident is asked to contact the IIO BC at 1-855-446-8477.

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UPDATE: 7:25 a.m.

Castanet's Rob Gibson is at the scene of a serious crash in Rutland and describes it as "a war zone."

Highway 33 remains closed for several blocks, from Highway 97, and RCMP have three areas behind police tape.

"It's like a war zone, debris is everywhere, and the car's battery flew almost a block away from where the car came to a rest," says Gibson.

Neighbours are starting to mill around the area to get a look at the heavily damaged sport coupe.

Six police cruisers are at the scene, which has yet to be cleared.

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UPDATE 6:45 a.m.

RCMP still have Highway 33 closed after a single-vehicle collision on Nickel Road between Highway 33 and Leathead Road.

Traffic reconstruction investigators and officers are collecting evidence and documenting it as they try to piece together what led to the crash.

Reports indicate the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed when it struck a concrete wall or barrier.

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ORIGINAL 5:51 a.m.

Kelowna RCMP are on the scene of a serious incident near the intersection of Highway 33 and Nickel Road.

Several photos show the street strewn with debris and a silver, two-door vehicle with serious damage. The battery of the car landed in front of Taylor Road.

One person who saw the wreckage tells us: "stuff all over the road, police are rerouting traffic all through the back streets, and there is police caution tape at every side street off of the eastbound lanes from Highway 97 to Gertsmar Road.

Castanet reader Steve Wraith says: "at approximately 3 a.m. (I) woke up to a helicopter flying low over Nickel Road in Rutland. There was a single-vehicle accident. The silver car hit a concrete fence."

Wraith heard second hand the car was travelling at excessive speed and that people were ejected from the vehicle.

"Two were not moving, one was in handcuffs."

Wraith says a fourth person was found later, and that his wife found a puppy with a broken paw in a nearby parking lot, which had taken shelter with an unknown man.

Wraith indicates a police officer took the puppy to the vet.