Police in the South Okanagan have a warning for motorists after a number of crashes over the past 24 hours.

RCMP in Keremeos say three accidents Wednesday and Thursday are the result of one or more of the following:

• Inadequate tires
  
• Speed
  
• Driver inexperience
  
• Inattentive drivers
  
• Poor road conditions.

Police says drivers need to adjust their driving to the conditions, including ensuring there is adequate tread on tires and the appropriate tires are being used for conditions.

One of the accidents Thursday morning sent two women to hospital with undetermined injuries after their Ford Ranger rolled over.

The vehicle was totalled in the incident.

An elderly Penticton woman’s last words were apparently spoken to her killer.

CHBC News reports a neighbour of 85-year-old Olive Hill heard the woman yell ‘get the hell out!’ early in the morning on August 4, 2006.

Later that morning, Hill’s naked body was found by her neighbour. The woman described as having a ‘big heart’ had been smothered to death and raped.

The man accused of the crime started his first degree murder trail in Kelowna Tuesday.

RCMP launched an investigation which lead them to arrest 23-year-old Corey Wolf Swite.

Police matched a strand of black hair found in Hill’s apartment to Swite.

A ‘Mr. Big’ sting in 2007 resulted in Swite confessing to undercover officers about his involvement in the murder, providing details that would only be known to Hill‘s killer.

The prosecutor says after a night of drinking, Swite broke into Hill’s apartment, looking to steal smokes and booze.

The jury has already been told Swite has admitted to knowing Hill and being familiar with her apartment.

It’s alleged he smothered Hill after she woke up and yelled at him to get out. He than raped her and took the time to wipe his fingerprints away from the apartment.

The trial is expected to last about three months. The Crown plans to call 42 witnesses.

Link: Police Search For Killer

It's no surprise the City of Penticton, like many others around the province, is over its snow removal budget.

There's still lots of snow on the ground and more is expected to fall throughout Tuesday.

Director of Development and Engineering, Mitch Moroziuk, says it's no surprise Penticton went over it's 2008 snow removal budget.

“The overall snow removal budget for the City of Penticton for the calendar year of 2008 is $201,000 and the expenditures to date are $360,000 leaving us with a shortfall of $150,000,” says Morozuik.

He says the city will make up for it's shortfall either through the 2008 surplus or reserve funds.

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- Today's Best Country

In a four day period, 20 unsafe drivers were taken off South Okanagan roads.

The weekend of New Year’s Eve saw the South Okanagan Traffic Service enforcing road rules.

Sergeant John Rasmussen says the results of the enforcement were saddening.

“With the publicity of the recent road checks one would expect that drivers would not drink and risk their lives or others on the municipality streets and provincial highways, especially at this time of year. Sadly, this was not the case and many chose to still drink and drive this past New Years Eve,” says Rasmussen.

He says the weekend results were as follows:

• Six impaired drivers
  
• 15 - 24 hour suspensions by alcohol
  
• Two 24 hour suspensions by drugs
  
• Two drug seizures
  
• 10 seatbelt charges
  
• Seven speeding charges
  
• Nine driver related charges (no license, driving contrary to restrictions)
  
• One intersection charge
  
• Eight vehicle related charges.

“The roads were very icy and slippery. Are people not understanding, it is no longer acceptable to drink and drive?”

Rasmussen says over the last seven weeks, nearly 30 drivers have been found to be impaired by drugs or alcohol and more than 50 - 24 hour alcohol related suspensions have been issued.

Update: As of 9:17 pm Environment Canada has ended the strong wind warning.

Environment Canada has updated a wind warning for the South Okanagan including Penticton. Strong southerly winds of 60 km/h gusting 90 over the South Okanagan - including Penticton are expected this afternoon.

Snowfall warnings have been issued for Kelowna and Vernon for Monday morning.

"In the southern interior, strong winds of 60 km/h gusting 90 km/h are forecast to develop in the Penticton and Kamloops regions late this afternoon. The strong winds combined with falling snow will generate blowing snow through the regions. The strong winds are forecast to diminish later this evening."

Menwhile a strong moisture laden pacific frontal system has spread heavy snow into the British Columbia interior today. Snow has developed in the central and northern interior. The snow is gradually making its way into the southern interior, Columbias, and Western Kootenays this afternoon. Amounts of 10 to 20 cm are forecast by Monday morning. Along with the snow, strong southerly winds gusting to 80 km/h have developed through many central interior regions producing localized blizzard conditions. The blizzard conditions are expected to end later this evening and overnight as winds diminish."