RCMP cordon off the scene of a crash that left a bicyclist dead on Horizon Drive in West Kelowna on August 1, 2022. A West Kelowna woman says a recent fatal bicycle crash highlights the dangers of traffic in her neighborhood. A man in his 60s was struck by an SUV on Horizon Drive near Westview Way on Aug. 1 and died from his injuries. Although it didn’t happen right around the corner, Cindy, who lives on Westview Way, says the intersection is scary. He wants the city of West Kelowna to install a mirror so drivers exiting Westview Way can better see vehicles coming around what he calls the blind corner at Horizon Dr. She called the city when she moved to the neighborhood nearly four years ago to ask for the mirror, but says she was turned away. “Maybe this will wake up the town,” Cindy said. “Because that’s an awful corner and honestly, seriously, people know it’s a hill and they literally hit it to start flying up the hill. “I don’t know how many times I’ve gone to the Horizon exit from Westview Way and I’m slowly pulling out and this vehicle turns around.” However, despite her insistence that it is a blind spot, more than one report from city engineers has suggested that there is no need for a mirror. “We are deeply saddened and feel terrible for the family and friends of this gentleman. What a horrible thing to happen,” said Paul Gipps, chief administrative officer, City of West Kelowna. Gipps adds that the collision did not happen at the corner. “I know people are concerned about that corner as people speed up the hill or go down the hill, people try to turn into it.” He points out that the city’s traffic engineer has reviewed the intersection more than once, including twice since 2019. “A mirror was not considered by the traffic engineer to do what this lady thinks it will do at this intersection,” says Gipps. He says the city will see what comes out of the RCMP investigation and review it for any safety concerns.
