Body discovered in Okanagan Lake
The RCMP have now identified the body of a man, since recovered from Okanagan Lake early Wednesday morning in West Kelowna.
On July 27, shortly before 8:30 a.m., West Kelowna RCMP were called after the discovery of a deceased male found floating in the waters of Okanagan Lake in the Casa Loma area.
“RCMP investigators have now positively identified the deceased as a 49year-old Kelowna man,” states Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey. “The investigation into the man’s death has now been turned over to the B.C. Coroners Service, as his death has been deemed not suspicious in nature.”
RCMP and the B.C. Coroners Service were investigating a fatal collision between a truck and a motorcycle late Wednesday evening in West Kelowna.
On July 26, at 9:19 p.m., West Kelowna RCMP responded to a report of a collision between a motorcycle and a pickup truck at the intersection of Highway 97 and Elk Road in West Kelowna. A northbound grey Suzuki motorcycle was struck by a red Dodge Dakota pickup truck, completing a left turn from the southbound lanes of Highway 97 eastbound onto Elk Road.
The rider of the Suzuki motorcycle, a 37-year-old West Kelowna man, was rushed to hospital in grave condition. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased in hospital. The driver of the Dodge pickup truck was treated at the scene for minor injuries as a result of the collision.
A portion of the highway was closed for several hours and traffic was diverted around the scene, as RCMP collision analysts conducted a detailed examination of the crash scene. Exact causal factors are not yet know, however early indicators from witness accounts suggest that the speeds at which the motorcyclist was travelling may have been a factor.
West Kelowna RCMP and the RCMP Integrated Collision Analyst and Reconstructionist Services, continue to assist the BC Coroners Service in the still ongoing investigation.
The curbside catch basin battle against mosquitoes resumes next week in many neighbourhoods across the Central Okanagan.
Weather permitting from Monday July 31 through Friday, August 4, crew members wearing high visibility vests driving four scooters and a marked Chevy pickup will be stopping at every roadside catch basin in Kelowna, Lake Country, Peachland, a portion of West Kelowna Estates and the Sunset Ranch community in the Central Okanagan East Electoral Area. They’ll be dropping water soluble pouches containing pellets of an environmentally approved mosquito larvicide into the catch basin.
Approximately 10,000 roadside catch basins will be treated for the second time in as many months as these areas participate in funding the Regional District of Central Okanagan Mosquito Control Program.
If you’d like to know more about this program and how you can help reduce mosquito breeding sites around your property, visit regionaldistrict.com/ mosquitoes.
The City of West Kelowna announced on Thursday that sandbags have been removed from the following waterfront parks and they will reopen on Saturday, July 29:
• Hitchner Park (Beach Access) – Jennens Road; • Osprey Park – Green Bay Road; • Hazelnut Park (Beach Access) – Whitworth Road; • Casa Loma Beach Park – Casa Loma Road (north); • Beechnut Park (Beach Access) – George Court
Flood recovery continues at the following parks which will remain closed until further notice:
• Gellatly Walkway – Gellatly Road; • Heartnut Park – Whitworth Road; • Jennens Park – Jennens Road The lineup for Music in the Park on Friday, July 28 is: • Emerging artist, 6:40 p.m., Kelli Keegan • Opening act, 7 p.m., JS Garcia Band • Headline act, 8 p.m., Black Cat Soul Free, family friendly Music in the Park concerts take place every Friday night from 6:40 p.m. to 9 p.m., through to August 25 at Memorial Park, adjacent to Johnson Bentley Memorial Aquatic Centre. Music lovers will enjoy a variety of genres including country, pop, classical, and more.
West Kelowna Recreation staff will be in the park hosting games and activities for the kids. A food and beverage vendor will be operating during the concerts.