Paramedics tend to a male who was injured following an incident involving a pickup truck that plowed through a vineyard south of Oliver this morning. Photos by Lyonel Doherty
Police apprehended and charged an Oliver man whom they believe was the driver of a stolen truck that crashed into a vineyard last Friday and injured a worker.
Just after 9 a.m. a black Ford F350 failed to negotiate a curve on Highway 97 near Road 11 and plowed through a vineyard, taking out numerous grape vines, posts and wiring.
Corporal Brian Evans of the Oliver RCMP said there were several migrant farm workers actively pruning vines when the truck careened into the vineyard. One worker was struck and suffered a broken arm.
Police determined that the truck had been stolen in Okanagan Falls on July 10, and the driver fled the vineyard before RCMP arrived.
“The quick-thinking vineyard owner took a photograph of the driver,” Evans said. “As a result of his action, police determined the identity of the male, who is known to police and a resident of Oliver.”
After his arrest on Sunday, the suspect appeared in court Monday, charged with failing to remain at the scene of an accident, possession of stolen property over $5,000 and breach of probation.
Corporal Brian Evans of the Oliver RCMP investigates the stolen truck that crashed into the vineyard. The driver fled before police arrived.
Cpl. Brian Evans talks to a witness at the scene.
