Community Rallies with Support after Lumby Youth Killed in Pickup Truck Incident

June 30 2026 - Grief and support are pouring in after a 15-year-old Charles Bloom Secondary student died Saturday night when a pickup truck struck two pedestrians at a rural youth gathering near Lumby.

The tight-knit communities of Lumby and Cherryville are rallying around those affected

Charles Bloom Secondary opened Monday for students and families needing support, with counsellors and agencies on site.

The tight-knit communities of Lumby and Cherryville are rallying around those affected

In a letter to families, Principal Josh Gutknecht and Vice Principal Robyn Lindahl acknowledged the profound impact and encouraged open conversations at home.

Local Facebook groups such as “Around the Block Lumby” have been filled with messages of condolence, with residents urging others to “hug your kids so tight” and talk about the dangers of bad decisions. One commenter wrote, “So many lives are affected… Big hugs and prayers to all.”

Grief support continues today and this week. A drop-in session with a CMHA crisis responder was held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Cherryville Resource Center (158 North Fork Road), with additional informal peer support, youth chats, and virtual options available through Thursday.

Contacts include Whitevalley Community Resource Centre (250-547-8866) and Child & Youth Mental Health (250-549-5404).

RCMP continue to investigate and ask anyone with information to call (250) 545-7171.

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP say officers responded around 11:50 p.m. on June 27 to reports of a vehicle striking pedestrians at the gathering.

Despite immediate first aid from witnesses and efforts by BC Ambulance crews, the 15-year-old Lumby youth succumbed to his injuries at the scene. A second youth was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A 16-year-old Vernon youth was arrested after fleeing the scene but was later released pending a future court date. He faces several potential criminal charges.

Multiple cellphone videos from those at the gathering helped investigators identify and apprehend the driver quickly, police said.

The BC Coroners Service is conducting an independent investigation.

Community Rallies with Support after Lumby Youth Killed in Pickup Truck Incident