An Olalla man has been charged with dangerous driving causing death after a fatal motor vehicle accident near the Penticton airport on Sunday around 1:35 p.m.
According to police, a 32-year-old Vancouver man who was a passenger in a white GMC Jimmy that was sideswiped by a Kia SUV driven by a 72-year-old Olalla man was pronounced dead at the scene. Frank Tamok appeared in Penticton Court on Monday charged with dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and failing to stop at the scene of an accident. He was ordered detained in custody until his next court appearance July 20.
Investigators say that Tamok was rear-ended in his Kia Sport Tec SUV at the Channel Parkway and Highway 97 intersection. He then accelerated away, only to have minor collisions with several other vehicles within half a kilometre prior to sideswiping the Jimmy.
RCMP said the Kia was nearing Old Airport Road heading west on Highway 97 when the Olalla man sideswiped the Jimmy causing the driver to lose control. The Jimmy careened into the opposing lane and overturned while airborne. The Jimmy then landed on the front-end of an eastbound Toyota Tacoma that was pulling a travel trailer.
The two occupants of the Toyota Tacoma were treated for minor injuries and released.