Hwy 97 opens after crash

Photo: Nadia Ostashewski

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Photo: Nadia Ostashewski Photo: Nadia Ostashewski Photo: Nadia Ostashewski Photo: Nadia Ostashewski Photo: Yosh Richet Photo: Contributed Photo: Peter Weeber

 

UPDATE 8:05 p.m.

Highway 97 has been reopened to single-lane alternating traffic, according to motorists at the scene and DriveBC.

UPDATE: 7:10 p.m.

Five people have been injured after a tractor-trailer lost control and flipped on Highway 97 Sunday afternoon.

BC Ambulance sent five ground ambulances and one air ambulance to the scene, approximately seven kilometres north of Summerland, at 4:45 p.m.

Amy Robertson, spokesperson for BC Emergency Health Services, says one person was airlifted from the scene, two taken by ground ambulance and two others were "walking wounded."

No updates have been provided on the conditions of the injured people.

DriveBC estimates Highway 97 will remain closed until 12:30 a.m.

UPDATE: 6:10 p.m.

DriveBC reports Highway 97 will remain closed in both directons until 12:30 a.m. after a collision involving a tractor-trailer and passenger vehicle Sunday afternoon.

Air ambulance was dispatched to the scene. Witnesses tell Castanet paramedics were helping people that were inside a red vehicle. 

UPDATE: 5:35 p.m.

Traffic is building on Highway 97 after a tractor-trailer lost control and tipped over near Okanagan Lake Provincial Park.

A witness on scene says the driver lost control of his load and crossed both lanes of the highway. 

"It was traumatic for me, ambulance are here on both sides. There are three police cars on this side," said Nadia Ostashewski. "He lost his load over the side and then flipped."

ORIGINAL: 5:12 p.m.

A serious collision is blocking Highway 97 south of Okanagan Lake Provincial Park on Sunday.

Photographs from the scene show a tractor-trailer upside down blocking the road and what appears to a heavily damaged vehicle.

Drive BC says assessment is in progress and drivers should expect delays and congestion.

Drivers travelling on Highway 97 say the road is blocked and they cannot get through.

Photo: Nadia Ostashewski