3 Kelowna Secondary students killed in overnight crash

UPDATE: 3:50 p.m.

Gordon Drive between Lexington Drive and Cook Road has now re-opened after last night's fatal collision.

The road was closed for just over 15 hours as police conducted an investigation and cleared the roadway of debris from the crash.

Fortis BC was also on scene after the car involved knocked down a power pole.

Kelowna RCMP continue to investigate what led to the crash.

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UPDATE 2 p.m.

The Kelowna RCMP have now confirmed the ages of three Kelowna Secondary Grade 12 students who died in a horrific crash overnight on Gordon Drive.

Police were called to the crash near the intersection of Gordon Dr. and Cook Road just after 12 a.m. Officers arrived to find a black Honda Civic sedan extensively damaged.

The 18-year-old female driver, the 18-year old male passenger and the 17-year-old female passenger were pronounced deceased at the scene.

“The Kelowna RCMP wish to thank the public for their patience while Gordon Drive remained closed, as our investigators were on scene to collect evidence to assist in determining the cause of the collision,” says Const. Solana Paré of the Kelowna RCMP.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to friends and family affected by this tragic collision. RCMP Victim Services are providing support to the witnesses, friends and family of the victims during this difficult time.”

The investigation into the cause of the crash remains open.

No other details are being released by the police or coroner.

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UPDATE: 11:45 a.m.

Castanet has learned the three people who were killed in a late night crash Tuesday night along Gordon Drive were grade 12 students from Kelowna Secondary School.

"All staff and students have been notified. We have a critical incident response team that support students and staff during tragedies like this," said Central Okanagan School District superintendent Kevin Kaardal.

The response team will be made available for staff and students for as long as necessary.

"School continues and supports are in place. Staff are being incredible in the face of this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families," Kaardal added.

A comment on a social media says the students were set to graduate next weekend.

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UPDATE 10:18 a.m.

Kelowna RCMP says there is currently no update on the fatal collision overnight on Gordon Drive near Cook Road that claimed three lives.

"I can confirm the road will be closed for an indeterminate amount of time. We appreciate the patience of the public with the road closure while we continue our investigation into this tragic collision," said Const. Solana Pare.

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UPDATE 8:39 a.m.

The late-night crash on Gordon Dr. that claimed three lives is still being investigated by RCMP traffic analysts and the resulting backup is causing major delays to the morning commute.

"Lakeshore is a parking lot right now," one commuter tells Castanet.

Traffic coming into downtown from the southern parts of the city has been seriously impacted. RCMP are diverting traffic from Gordon Dr. to Lexington Dr. which is adding to the congestion on Lakeshore Rd.

Police have asked motorists to avoid the area until further notice.

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ORIGINAL 6:20 a.m.

Three people were killed in a fatal collision overnight in Kelowna.

Just after midnight, RCMP responded to a report of a single-vehicle crash on Gordon Drive, south of Cook Road.

When officers arrived, they found the vehicle with extensive damage, and the three occupants deceased, says Kelowna RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jocelyn Noseworthy.

Officers are in the process of identifying the occupants and completing next of kin notifications. The BC Coroners Service has been notified.

Due to the severity of the collision, the area of Gordon Drive between Lexington Drive and Cook Road was still closed as of 5 a.m. and will remain so until the scene investigation is complete.

Police ask motorists to avoid the area.

More updates will be released as they become available.

Residents of the area say the vehicle was travelling at a high rate of speed and lost control, taking out light posts and splitting the car in half.