B.C. police watchdog called in after fatal crash in Kelowna

The scene of a fatal crash in Kelowna on Thursday, Feb. 27, is seen. (Courtesy: Mariano Rubharajan/Castanet)

B.C.’s police oversight agency has been called in to investigate after a woman was killed in a car crash in Kelowna Thursday.

The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. says, according to information provided to it by the RCMP, that members of the uniform gang enforcement team in an unmarked police vehicle were behind a black two-door BMW travelling north on Highway 97 around 6:15 p.m.

At the intersection of highways 97 and 33, the BMW crashed into a southbound Mitsubishi SUV that was turning left, the IIO said.

“A woman in the Mitsubishi then went into medical distress. She was taken by ambulance to the hospital but later died,” the release reads.

The IIO is tasked with investigating any police-related incidents that result in serious injury or death and says first steps will “seek to confirm the extent of police involvement and what role, if any, that involvement may have played in the woman’s death.”

The Kelowna RCMP issued a statement shortly after the crash saying officers were investigating a “serious motor vehicle incident” and that traffic was re-routed. As of Friday afternoon, Mounties have not made further details available.

The IIO asked anyone who witnessed or has video of the collision to call 1-855-446-8477 or use the contact form on its website.