A fiery fatal crash on Highway 3 in Princeton Wednesday is being linked to a domestic assault in Osoyoos.
On Wednesday afternoon, RCMP in the Keremeos and Princeton areas were advised to watch for a suspect and vehicle as a result of a reported domestic aggravated assault which had occurred in Osoyoos.
Police were in pursuit of the vehicle, but say they had to cease because of the dangerous manner in which the suspect was driving. They alerted Princeton RCMP members further ahead.
Just outside of the Countryside Inn on Highway 3, eyewitnesses reported seeing a van driven by a male break through a police blockade, carry on down an embankment then come back up, flip and burst into flames on the highway.
At approximately 3 p.m., officers arrived on scene about one kilometre away from the blockade and pulled the man out of the burning vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The highway was subsequently closed and remained closed throughout the night.
The body of the suspect was removed from the scene shortly after 6 a.m. Thursday, and as of 10:15 a.m., the highway is still closed.
The Abbotsford Police Department are handling the investigation as RCMP policy requires an outside agency to do so.
Osoyoos RCMP are continuing their investigation into the reported assault of a 62-year-old woman who is still in hospital.
Highway 3 re-opened at approximately 11 a.m. this morning.
