Driver going over 3 times the speed limit tells Kelowna cops he was being chased

The Kelowna branch of the BC Highway Patrol (BCHP) have essentially impounded one car per day for excessive speeding in 2025.

One of the most recent instances was a white Honda Civic that was caught on radar going 218 km/h in a 70 km/h zone on Hwy 97 in the Kelowna area.

According to the BCHP, the Civic was flashing its headlights at other vehicles on the road in an effort to get them to move out of the way when it was pulled over shortly after 4 am on Aug. 4.

When stopped, the 36-year-old driver allegedly told police that he was being chased by two other men.

“He could not provide a description of the other vehicle or the men,” explained a BCHP media release.”

“The BCHP officer also gave the driver a business card in case his memory returned about the men and vehicles who were chasing him. To date, the police officer has not received any calls.”

The driver was issued fines of $483 and $368 respectively for excessive speeding and driving without due care or attention. They will also be paying for a seven-day vehicle impound and the associated tow fees.

Police also issued the driver a notice and order for insufficient tires, lowered suspension modifications and a severely cracked windshield.

The vehicle’s licence plates were seized and the car will need to pass an inspection to be re-insured once repairs are completed.

Finally, a high-risk driving report was sent to the BC Superintendent of Motor Vehicles for an immediate driver’s licence review.

“Speeding at triple the limit is incredibly dangerous at any time of day,” Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said through the BCHP-issued release. “The financial penalties are serious, but there are many examples where this kind of speed ends in death.”

According to McLaughlin, the Civic is one of 220 vehicles that have been impounded for excessive speeding by Kelowna BCHP officers this year, a rate of around one per day.