Police confirm two people were killed in the crash Friday morning on Highway 97 by the Vernon Cadet Training Center. Cpl. Mike Halskov with the BC Highway Patrol says a southbound GMC pickup crossed into opposing lanes and made contact with a running vehicle. The pickup collided with a Toyota SUV, killing both occupants, a 71-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman. Both victims are from Vancouver. The driver of the first pickup was taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries. The incident happened at about 08:30 and closed the highway for most of the day. Police say impaired driving is suspected as a factor in the crash. The BC Highway Patrol from Falkland took over the investigation with the assistance of the Vernon/North Okanagan RCMP, the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service and the BC Competition Service. Where criminality is suspected as a causal factor in a fatal collision, the BC Highway Patrol’s Criminal Collision Investigation Team is activated to assist investigators. Anyone with information about the collision, including any dash cam video, is asked to contact BCHP Falkland at 250-379-2164 and reference file 2022-3607.
