The William R. Bennett bridge that connects West Kelowna with Kelowna has reopened traffic in both directions after a team of explosives gave the clarified to a suspicious white truck that had been parked in the middle of the bridge in the early hours of the tomorrow.
Kelowna RCMP said the incident began around 3:45 am PT on Monday when they responded to an distressed man who had parked the vehicle on the side through the lanes to the east in the middle of the bridge. The man had lit a small fire inside.
Kelowna RCMP Insp. Chris Gable said the officers convinced the man to leave the vehicle, and was arrested and took him to the Kelowna General Hospital.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, however, the officials had to wait for the arrival of the BC RCMP explosive elimination unit from the lowest continent point to ensure that the vehicle could withdraw from the bridge safely.
At approximately 2:15 pm PT, the truck was towed from the bridge without incident.
Kelowna RCMP closed the William R. Bennet bridge this morning at 3:45 am while responding to a person in crisis that had parked a vehicle on the lanes east of the bridge. Police believed that the person lit a small fire in the vehicle before being stopped safely.
“This research is still ongoing, and no more details will be provided at this time,” said CPL. Michael Gauthier Kelowna RCMP official of media relations in a statement. “Thank you especially to the public for understanding and the permanent patient while this matter was resolved safely.”
Gable said that another site in Rutland was also under investigation and potentially linked to the incident of the bridge.
A man has assumed responsibility in a Facebook post that lists complaints against many parts, including the police. The post has not been confirmed as that of the person that the police have arrested.
The incident led the main traffic chaos in the area and long alignments on both sides of the bridge, which crosses Lake Okanagan and is part of the 97 highway, the main route that leads inside and outside Kelowna.
Ron Berlie, president of Penticton Search and Rescue, told CBC News that his team had been responding to several reports of vehicles stranded on forest service roads while people try to overcome the closure. They have not reported injured, he said.
Some essential emergency and medical care workers were transported by Lake to get to work.
