Alcohol believed to be factor in fatal Bennett Bridge crash

Police say alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor in Tuesday’s fatal crash on the William R. Bennett Bridge, while the nearly five-hour closure has also renewed calls for a second Okanagan Lake crossing.

BC Highway Patrol released the update Wednesday as investigators continued looking into the crash that killed two people.

The lengthy closure caused major traffic backups across the Central Okanagan and prevented many people from travelling between Kelowna and West Kelowna. Mount Boucherie Secondary School was also forced to close because traffic delays left it without enough staff to safely operate.

The disruption has once again put the need for a second bridge in the political spotlight.