Vernon accident victim identified

Updated: April 04, 2011 2:04 PM Morning Star

The Vernon man killed in a mini-van on Highway 97 Sunday morning has been identified as Howard Nixon Horning, 82.  Police report Horning was a passenger in the Ford mini-van driven by his wife when she attempted to turn left onto Highland Road, near Swan Lake Nurseryland. The vehicle was struck by a southbound Mazda shortly before 10 a.m. Sunday. "The incident is being investigated by a traffic analyst and members of the North Okanagan Traffic Services," said Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk. "The van was making a legal turn into Swan Lake Nurseryland. It was coming from a stop, then turning into traffic that is doing highway speed. There are still many things to look at." Horning died at the scene. His wife remains in the intensive care unit of Vernon Jubilee Hospital. The driver of the Mazda, a woman from Salmon Arm, was taken to VJH. She was treated for her injuries and released from hospital.  The accident closed a portion of the highway for several hours.  North Okanagan Traffic Services is continuing to investigate this crash and is asking anyone who may have witnessed this crash to please contact them at 250-545-7171.