Skip to content

Fatal car accident on Highway #3 near Princeton claims a life

It took hours before Highway #3 could be re-opened after a tragic accident took the lives of the passenger and a dog not far from the Princeton Municipal R.V. Park and Campground. The driver was flown out by helicopter in critical condition.
SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA
The passenger of this westbound Grand Am and a family dog succumbed to their injuries after crossing the centre line into an eastbound Hummer early Monday morning. The Hummer driver received non-life threatening injuries and the Grand Am driver is in critical condition in Kelowna hospital.

Monday morning started off with local emergency crews hustling out to the scene of a horrific accident just a minute east of the local RCMP detachment.  Two helicopters landed in the parking lot at the curling arena and sat waiting to collect their precious cargo.  A Hummer and a Pontiac Grand Am collided with the Pontiac taking the brunt of the damage.

A dog was an instant fatality in the deadly crash.  The male passenger of the Grand Am did not survive the accident in spite of the efforts of emergency crews and one female victim was flown out by helicopter in critical condition to Kelowna Hospital.  RCMP believe the Westbound Grand Am lost control, hit a no post and deflected off of it into the Eastbound Hummer.

“The investigation has been turned over to the South Okanagan Traffic Services,” stated Princeton RCMP Sergeant Dave Clare.

“The single occupant of the Hummer, a 58 year old Penticton resident, received non-life threatening injuries,” said Clare.  “All occupants appeared to have been wearing their seatbelts and airbags were deployed in both vehicles.”

Both North Vancouver residents in the Grand Am were in their mid-20s.  “Drivers really need to pay attention to driving conditions this time of year,” added Clare.

“We don’t like going to these kinds of calls and they can be avoided with just a little more caution.  It is a tragedy that can’t be taken back.”