Traffic Disrupted
Three-Vehicle Collision on Highway 97 in Lake Country Causes Significant Traffic Delays
Anonymous
A three-vehicle collision on southbound Highway 97 at Oceola Road in Lake Country brought significant traffic disruption on Saturday afternoon, June 20, 2026. The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m., according to Castanet. All three vehicles were too damaged to drive away and required tow trucks.
The left-turn lane from Oceola Road onto Highway 97 was fully blocked, as was the entrance to Woodsdale Road, West K News reported. Traffic analysts called the timing a worst-case scenario — a Saturday at 4 p.m. captures both local shoppers and inter-city travelers on one of the Okanagan's busiest corridors.
Emergency Crews Arrive and Block Key Turning Lanes
Lake Country RCMP and the Lake Country Fire Department arrived on scene by approximately 4:10 p.m. Crews began directing traffic and mitigating road hazards, including fluids spilled on the pavement. Towing services were called for all three vehicles shortly before 4:45 p.m., according to Castanet Kamloops.
Partial restoration of traffic flow was projected for around 6:15 p.m., though a full collision reconstruction investigation remained ongoing. The cause of the crash had not been released as of early Saturday evening. RCMP typically withhold causal factors — such as speed or distracted driving — until reconstruction is complete, Lake Country Calendar noted.
Highway 97 Carries Up to 45,000 Vehicles Daily
Highway 97 is the main road linking Kelowna and Vernon. It handles between 30,000 and 45,000 vehicles per day depending on the season. Blocking the southbound lanes, even for a few hours, effectively cuts off the Okanagan's main travel corridor. Weekend afternoons in summer are among the highest-volume periods on this stretch.
The crash site at Oceola Road is a known trouble spot. The current road design forces high-speed highway traffic to mix with vehicles turning in from residential and commercial areas, West K News reported. Safety advocates say the intersection's signal system is no longer enough for the traffic volumes it now handles.
Two Major Crashes at Oceola Road in 48 Hours
Saturday's collision was not an isolated event. Just two days earlier, on June 18, a serious crash at the nearby Oceola Road and Lake Hill Drive roundabout sent one person to hospital in critical condition. That back-to-back pattern — two major incidents in 48 hours at the same junction — has renewed calls for infrastructure changes.
A fatal collision on the same Highway 97 stretch in March 2025 had already prompted calls for upgrades. The District of Lake Country has faced ongoing pressure to lobby the provincial government for a grade-separated interchange at Oceola Road. A grade separation would move one road over or under the other, removing the conflict between turning and through traffic entirely.
Residents Reported Gridlock Within Minutes of the Crash
Community members flagged heavy stalling and gridlock on local emergency notification apps and online forums within minutes of the 4 p.m. collision. Castanet warned motorists of significant delays expected to last through the evening. Drivers were advised to avoid the Highway 97 and Oceola Road area and seek alternate routes.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is responsible for the Highway 97 corridor and its safety standards. The Lake Country RCMP are leading the collision reconstruction. No injuries have been officially confirmed in early reports, and the investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, according to Lake Country Calendar.
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