A man and woman were very fortunate to escape serious injuries, after the full size pickup truck they were driving, caught fire while travelling over the Okanagan Connector outside of West Kelowna.
On Sunday, just moments before 4 p.m, West Kelowna RCMP were advised of a traffic hazard, where a full sized pickup truck and attached horse trailer, had pulled to the edge of Highway 97C, after the truck and trailer unit caught fire and became fully engulfed in flames. The vehicle had been travelling west bound, away from the West Kelowna area, and was near Penask Summit when the fire started.
“The driver and lone passenger, a man and woman, were returning home to Prince George when their vehicle suddenly burst into flames,” states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “It was truly fortunate that the vehicle occupants were able to safely escape uninjured, and that there were no horses inside the trailer at the time of the blaze. According to the Prince George couple, they had just dropped off their horses in the Kelowna area.”
Although the fire department was unable to attend, as the fire was outside the fire protection zone. RCMP emergency responders attended the scene and monitored the fire, to ensure it did not spread into the nearby forest. The pickup truck and horse trailer were towed from the freeway, once cooled and safe to do so.
Anyone with any additional information can contact the West Kelowna RCMP at 250-768-2880.