File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Jon Azpiri and Doyle Potenteau / Global Okanagan

Fatal Crash

Single-vehicle crash in Kelowna claims lives of three high school seniors

May 26, 2021 | 1:27 PM

KELOWNA — Three high school students are dead following an overnight crash in Kelowna early Wednesday.

RCMP said they responded to a single-vehicle collision on Gordon Drive north of Cook Road just after midnight.

When officers arrived, they found the three occupants of the badly damaged vehicle had died.

The age and identity of the victims are unknown at this time, and there is no word yet on what caused the crash, but Global News has confirmed that all three were Grade 12 students at Kelowna Secondary School.

In an interview with Global News, School District 23 superintendent Kevin Kaardal said three Grade 12 students at KSS, unfortunately, died in the crash.

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Kaardal says it’s been an extremely tragic day, and that all their thoughts go out to friends and family of the deceased.

He also said the school district’s critical incidence response team has been activated and that it’s “at the school right now, supporting staff and students as they deal with this tragedy.”

In a statement, RCMP said they were in the process of notifying next-of-kin and the BC Coroners Service has been notified.

A witness told Global News that the vehicle was cut in half after hitting a utility pole.

The pole was flattened and two of the bodies were found in one half of the severed vehicle.

A stretch of Gordon Road, between Lexington Drive and Cook Road, is closed as officers continued to investigate.

Traffic in the area is heavily congested.