The gravel shoulder on Highway 97 still bears the scars of Tuesday’s tragedy. Just north of Vernon, a community still reeling after a collision claimed one life and left another person fighting for theirs in hospital.
BC Emergency Health Services responded with five ground ambulances and an air ambulance shortly after 3 p.m. The collision occurred near the turnoff to the Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club, an area locals have long identified as problematic during winter conditions.
“Our paramedics faced extremely challenging conditions,” said Andrea MacPherson, a spokesperson for BC Emergency Health Services. “Weather deteriorated rapidly that afternoon, creating hazardous road conditions that likely contributed to this terrible accident.”
The tragedy has reignited conversations about highway safety in British Columbia’s Interior, where winter driving conditions regularly challenge even experienced drivers. Provincial transportation data shows an average of 270 serious collisions annually on Highway 97 between Vernon and Kamloops, with nearly 40% occurring during winter months.
Vernon RCMP Constable Chris Terleski confirmed the investigation remains active. “We’re examining all factors that may have contributed to this collision, including road conditions, visibility, and vehicle maintenance,” he noted during yesterday’s press briefing.
For the North Okanagan community, this crash represents more than a statistic. At Talkin’ Donuts, a popular local shop just minutes from the crash site, conversations inevitably turn to highway safety.
“We see near-misses constantly during snowfall,” says Elaine Richardson, who commutes daily along the highway. “Sometimes the plows can’t keep up when weather changes this quickly.”
The fatal crash comes amid ongoing debates about infrastructure funding in B.C.’s Interior. Last month, Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu advocated for increased maintenance budgets for Highway 97, noting that population growth has outpaced infrastructure improvements.
“When tragedy strikes on our highways, it’s not just about that moment – it’s about the systems and funding decisions made years before,” Sandhu said during a February legislative session.
BC’s Ministry of Transportation has allocated $12.8 million for highway improvements in the North Okanagan region this fiscal year, but critics argue this falls short of addressing critical safety concerns. The B.C. Road Builders Association recently published a report suggesting interior highways require at least twice the current maintenance funding to adequately address safety concerns.
Tuesday’s fatality has prompted BC Emergency Health Services to issue an urgent reminder about winter driving preparedness, especially during the unpredictable transition between seasons.
“Even as we see signs of spring, mountain weather remains changeable,” explained MacPherson. “Drivers should maintain winter tires, carry emergency kits, and check DriveBC before traveling through mountain passes.”
Local paramedic Jenna Kowalchuk, who responded to Tuesday’s crash, offered a sobering perspective from the frontlines. “We see the consequences when preparation meets bad luck. Having proper tires and slowing down when conditions deteriorate might seem inconvenient until you witness what happens when someone doesn’t.”
The tragedy has also renewed calls from safety advocates for expanded cellular coverage along provincial highways. Several stretches of Highway 97 still have limited or no cell service, complicating emergency response times.
“Minutes matter in trauma cases,” notes Dr. Alan Gregory, an emergency physician at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. “When witnesses can’t immediately call for help because of coverage gaps, survival rates drop significantly.”
RCMP are asking anyone who witnessed the collision to contact the Vernon detachment. Meanwhile, community members have created a small memorial of flowers at the roadside near the crash site.
As temperatures continue fluctuating between winter and spring conditions, BC Emergency Health Services reminds travelers that road conditions can change dramatically within short distances or timeframes. Their safety message is simple but urgent: slow down, increase following distances, and respect the unpredictable nature of mountain highways.
For the families affected by Tuesday’s tragedy, these reminders come too late. For everyone else traveling B.C.’s highways this season, paramedics hope their warning might prevent another community from experiencing similar heartbreak.
