First responders at the scene of an apparent crash on Highway 97 Tuesday, July 29 (submitted photo)

By Liam Verster

HWY 97 Incident

UPDATE: One person hospitalized in Highway 97 crash, confrontation also ensued between two drivers

Jul 29, 2025 | 4:39 PM

UPDATE 5:45 p.m.

A motorcyclist was injured in the crash on Highway 97 Tuesday afternoon.

BX Swan Lake Fire Chief Bill Wacey said the collision involving the motorbike and an SUV occurred shortly after 3 p.m. July 29 in the northbound anes of the highway near Swan Lake Market and the intersection with Pleasant Valley Road.

“The motorcyclist ended up going through the back windshield of an SUV,” Wacey told Vernon Matters.

Emergency Health Services also told Vernon Matters earlier that one person was treated at the scene then taken to hospital in stable condition.

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The northbound lanes were cleared by around 5 p.m. Tuesday.

However, there was another incident in the same area around the same time.

Wacey said two southbound drivers got into a confrontation, leading to a fender bender on the highway around 4 p.m.

The fire department also attended the scene of that incident as there was concern of the incident escalating.

Wacey said both matters have been turned over to the Vernon North Okanagan RCMP, who confirmed that first responders responded to a call on the highway Tuesday afternoon and that one person was taken to hospital. Police did not provide any further details about the cause of the crash.

— UPDATE: 4:45 p.m. —

One person was taken to hospital following the crash on Highway 97 Tuesday afternoon.

Emergency Health Services says paramedics attended the scene of the crash that involved a motorcycle on the highway near Pleasant Valley Road shortly after 3 p.m. July 29.

“Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to one patient who was transported to hospital in stable condition,” BCEHS spokesperson, Bowen Osoko, said.

At last report northbound traffic was still backed up down the highway.

— Original Story —

Traffic heading north out of Vernon was slowed down due to a suspected crash.

Unconfirmed reports from Beach Radio listeners say first responders were on the scene of an alleged crash in the northbound lanes of Highway 97 near the Swan Lake Market around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 29.

First responders at the scene of an apparent crash on Highway 97 Tuesday, July 29 (submittedphoto)

Vernon Matters could not access the scene but did see traffic backed up to Meadowlark Road and Avenue Machinery Vernon around 4:15 p.m.

Northbound traffic on Highway 97 backed up to Meadowlark Road Tuesday (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

First responders have yet to respond to a request for comment from Vernon Matters inquiring about the alleged crash, the number of vehicles involved, and the condition of the people involved.