The William R. Bennett Bridge connecting West Kelowna to Kelowna stays closed in each instructions and will not reopen till an explosives workforce provides the all-clear.
Kelowna RCMP stated the incident began at round 3:45 a.m. PT Monday after they responded to a distraught man who had parked his automobile throughout the eastbound lanes in the course of the bridge and lit a small fireplace inside.
Kelowna RCMP Insp. Chris Gable stated officers satisfied the person to exit the automobile, and he was taken into custody and dropped at Kelowna Normal Hospital.
Kelowna RCMP closed the William R. Bennet Bridge this morning at 3:45 am whereas responding to an individual in disaster who had parked a automobile within the eastbound lanes of the bridge.
Police believed the individual ignited a small fireplace within the automobile earlier than they have been safely taken into custody.
Firefighters have been in a position to extinguish the hearth; nonetheless, officers are awaiting the arrival of the B.C. RCMP explosives disposal unit from the Decrease Mainland to make sure the automobile will be faraway from the bridge safely.
“Recognized contents of the van alone current a major threat to public security. Nevertheless, it’s unclear if there are further supplies of concern as a search of the automobile would place emergency personnel in danger in the meanwhile,” stated Gable.
A white van will be seen parked sideways throughout the empty bridge.
“As soon as we deem the automobile is secure, will probably be eliminated, and the freeway shall be reopened,” stated Cpl. Michael Gauthier, Kelowna RCMP media relations officer, in a press release issued simply earlier than 6 a.m. Monday. “Count on the bridge to be closed for a number of hours, please make alternate driving preparations within the meantime.”
Gable stated one other website in Rutland was additionally underneath investigation and probably linked to the bridge incident.
A person is claiming accountability in a Fb submit and has listed his grievances towards many, together with police. The submit has not been confirmed as that of the individual police have taken into custody.
The incident has led to main site visitors chaos within the space and lengthy lineups on both facet of the Bennett Bridge, which crosses Okanagan Lake and is a part of Freeway 97, the most important route main into and out of Kelowna.
Drive B.C. has posted alternate routes.
Ron Berlie, president of Penticton Search and Rescue, advised CBC Information his workforce has been responding to a number of stories of automobiles being stranded on forest service roads as individuals attempt to get across the closure. No accidents have been reported, he stated.
Some important emergency and health-care staff are being ferried throughout the lake to be able to get to their jobs.
Source link