By Pete McIntyre

Update: Crashes on highway; dangerous pothole; travel not recommended

Dec 20, 2019 | 10:39 AM

Update 3 p.m.

The message is to not drive unless you have to.

Precipitation has been falling off and on in the Vernon area much of the day in the form of showers or snow, depending on the temperature which is hovering right around the freezing level.

That’s created dangerous driving conditions, especially if it’s combined with drivers gong too fast for the conditions.

A caller tells us Highway 97 south of Vernon is – quote – “awful,” with three vehicle rollovers spotted between Vernon and Lake Country.

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“Two vehicles were on their roof and one was on it’s side,” the driver told Vernon Matters.

Another caller told us about a massive pothole that drivers should be aware of in the left hand southbound lane just past the Okanagan College turnoff on Highway 97.

“I hit it and it just about took my front end out,” said Bob Sattler, who was heading to Kelowna this afternoon.

Sattler said the pot hole is so big it damaged two vehicles that hit it, so the advice is to stay in the right hand lane southbound (towards Kelowna) after the college until Dump Hill, until the pot hole can be repaired.

Also in the Greater Venron area, a caller told us a railroad crossing barrier was stuck in the down position on Highway 6 east of Vernon by the Coldstream Ranch Friday afternoon.

“There is flashing lights, but no trains in the area,” said the caller

Vehicles were able to get through, but it was slow going and there were long backups.

Elsewhere, road travel is simply a nightmare.

Heavy snowfall is occurring on many routes, and Drive BC is encouraging travellers to consider alternate plans if traveling in south-west BC on Hwys 1, 3, 5, 5A, and 97C.

Click here for updates from Drive BC.

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Original story by Ashley Legassic/CFJC Today

Multiple vehicle incidents and hazardous winter weather have led to closures along three major highways connecting the Southern Interior to the Lower Mainland.

Heading into one of the busiest travel weekends of the year, the Coquihalla Highway is closed northbound between Hope and Merritt due to a vehicle incident.

A travel advisory is in place for the highway due to heavy snow and limited visibility.

Highway 1 is closed in both directions west of Jackass Mountain Summit due to a rockslide. It’s also closed from Revelstoke to the Alberta border due to avalanche work.

Highway 3 is closed in both directions due to a crash between Allison Pass and Manning Park.

Global News reports that at least one person has died after a crash on Highway 3 near the Paulson Bridge in the Kootenays.

According to Environment Canada, 56 centimetres of snow fell on the Coquihalla Highway by this morning (Dec. 20).

Monitor DriveBC for the latest on road conditions.

by Pete McIntyre

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