Image: BC Highway Patrol

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Fatal collision

30-year-old B.C. man arrested in fatal collision that killed 2 young men

Jul 14, 2025 | 12:14 PM

SPALLUMCHEEN — The BC Highway Patrol announced Monday (July 14) they have arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly driving the wrong way on Highway 97A, resulting in a head-on collision that claimed the life of two men ages 20 and 19.

According to a statement from BC Highway Patrol spokesperson Corporal Michael McLaughlin, the incident happened early Saturday, July 12 at about 1:30 a.m. A black GMC Sierra and a tan Chevrolet crashed head-on on Highway 97A near Spallumcheen.

“Witness reports say that a 2009 GMC Sierra with lifted suspension and a tidy tank in the bed was driving the wrong way on the divided highway prior to the fatal collision,” said Corporal McLaughlin. “There may be people who had a near-miss with the black GMC Sierra who have not yet spoken to police. We need to speak to those people, and dash-camera video would be very useful.”

The tan Chevrolet contained four people; tragically, two of the passengers, a 19-year-old Vernon man, and a 20-year-old Coldstream man, did not survive the collision.

The man who was driving the black GMC Sierra, and a passenger, left the scene on foot without identifying themselves to witnesses or police. Later that same day, a 30-year-old Armstrong man, who is believed to be the suspect driver, was arrested in relation to the crash.

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Anyone who witnessed the minutes leading up to the crash, or who has dash-camera video, is asked to call BC Highway Patrol – Falkland at 250-828-3184 and quote file 2025-2243.