The William R. Bennett Bridge connecting West Kelowna to Kelowna remains closed in both directions and won’t reopen until an explosives team gives the all-clear.
Kelowna RCMP said the incident started at around 3:45 a.m. PT Monday when they responded to a distraught man who had parked his vehicle across the eastbound lanes in the middle of the bridge and lit a small fire inside.
Kelowna RCMP Insp. Chris Gable said officers convinced the man to exit the vehicle, and he was taken into custody and brought to Kelowna General Hospital.
Kelowna RCMP closed the William R. Bennet Bridge this morning at 3:45 am while responding to a person in crisis who had parked a vehicle in the eastbound lanes of the bridge. Police believed the person ignited a small fire in the vehicle before they were safely taken into custody.
Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire; however, officials are awaiting the arrival of the B.C. RCMP explosives disposal unit from the Lower Mainland to ensure the vehicle can be removed from the bridge safely.
“Known contents of the van alone present a significant risk to public safety. However, it is unclear if there are additional materials of concern as a search of the vehicle would place emergency personnel at risk at the moment,” said Gable.
A white van can be seen parked sideways across the empty bridge.
“Once we deem the vehicle is safe, it will be removed, and the highway will be reopened,” said Cpl. Michael Gauthier, Kelowna RCMP media relations officer, in a statement issued just before 6 a.m. Monday. “Expect the bridge to be closed for several hours, please make alternate driving arrangements in the meantime.”
Gable said another site in Rutland was also under investigation and potentially linked to the bridge incident.
A man is claiming responsibility in a Facebook post and has listed his grievances against many, including police. The post has not been confirmed as that of the person police have taken into custody.
The incident has led to major traffic chaos in the area and long lineups on either side of the Bennett Bridge, which crosses Okanagan Lake and is part of Highway 97, the major route leading into and out of Kelowna.
Drive B.C. has posted alternate routes.
Ron Berlie, president of Penticton Search and Rescue, told CBC News his team has been responding to several reports of vehicles being stranded on forest service roads as people try to get around the closure. No injuries have been reported, he said.
Some essential emergency and health-care workers are being ferried across the lake in order to get to their jobs.