July 22, 2025
RED FM News Desk
A 27-year-old Kelowna man is facing significant fines after a dangerous incident on Highway 97 where he nearly struck a BC Highway Patrol officer while speeding and using his cellphone. Authorities stated that the man failed the “ultimate test” of driver attention.
The incident occurred on July 16, 2025, at 4:00 p.m., when the man was driving a grey BMW sedan alone. His vehicle was clocked at 145 km/h in a 110 km/h zone near 83 Mile House.
Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol reported that a fully uniformed officer stepped onto the highway to stop the BMW driver. There should have been ample time and distance to stop, but according to the driver’s own explanation, he was reading a text message and did not see the police.
The driver quickly learned that officers often work in pairs. While the first officer moved to safety, a second officer successfully stopped the BMW driver. He was subsequently issued $196 fine for speeding against highway sign (exceeded by 21 to 40 km/h), $368 ticket for using an electronic device while driving and $144 ticket for failing to stop for police when signaled.
Corporal McLaughlin emphasized that RCMP officers are in the process of transitioning to body cameras, meaning drivers’ actions near police are increasingly likely to be recorded. He expressed relief that the driver eventually stopped, noting, “This was a dangerous situation that could have ended much worse for both the police officers and the driver.”
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