In the early hours of September 9, 2019, 72-year-old Bjorn Collnes was traveling from Falkland to Kamloops, British Columbia. This would be the last time he was seen. His brown minivan was later discovered abandoned on Highway 97, west of Westwold, on September 12. At the time of his disappearance, Collnes, a Caucasian male with blue eyes and brown hair, stood at five feet seven inches tall.
He was last seen wearing a black Harley Davidson t-shirt, grey and black camouflage shorts, and brown running shoes. Concerns for his well-being were heightened by the fact that he is a diabetic and was believed to have only a limited supply of medication with him.
The discovery of his abandoned vehicle initiated an extensive search effort by the Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP and local search and rescue teams. The search encompassed vast ground and air operations in the vicinity of where the minivan was found. The investigation also led the RCMP Underwater Recovery Unit to conduct a search of Monte Lake. A peculiar detail in the case is the disappearance of a navy blue, older-style mountain bike with a small motor that was in the back of his minivan. This has led to the unconfirmed belief that he may have left the area on the bicycle. However, family and friends have stated that he was not an avid outdoorsman or mountain biker.
Despite the comprehensive searches and public appeals for information, no sign of Bjorn Collnes has been found. Authorities urged anyone who might have dashcam footage from Highway 97 between Falkland and the Monte Lake area from the time of his disappearance to come forward. His personal belongings were found inside his van, but the motorized bicycle remains missing. The case remains a troubling mystery, leaving his family and community with unanswered questions about what happened to him after he was last seen on that September morning.Last Seen: Sep 9, 2019
