A total of six people were transported to hospital, one of them in critical condition, after a Sport Utility Vehicle crashed into the public library in Peachland just before 4:00pm Wednesday afternoon.
RCMP say a blue BMW X3 drove through the front wall of the Okanagan Regional Library located on Clements Crescent in Peachland. Witnesses at the scene reported that the the vehicle suddenly drove over the curb and onto the pedestrian walkway before it crashed through the wall.
Several patrons inside the public library at the time were injured.
One man, believed to be in his 40’s, sustained life threatening injuries and remains in critical condition. Another individual sustained what police believe to be serious injuries, while the remaining 3 are believed to have sustained non-life threatening injuries after being hit by flying debris.
The driver, a 71-year-old woman, was transported to hospital as a precaution for further medical assessment.
“At this time there is no clear cause of this tragic incident,” states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The investigation remains ongoing as police continue to interview victims and independent witnesses at the scene. As part of their investigation, RCMP will seize the vehicle which will be the subject of a full mechanical inspection,” adds Cpl. O’Donaghey.
“RCMP continue to secure the crash site, as investigators work alongside analysts with RCMP Integrated Collision Analyst and Reconstructionist Services (ICARS), who will also conduct a full examination of the scene,” says Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey.