The body of a 65-year-old woman was recovered from a vehicle submerged in the ocean just off of a property located on the 7700-block of West Coast Road.
Police, ambulance, Sooke Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue and Canadian Coast Guard responded around 11:30 a.m., after a local resident alerted the woman’s husband that her car was in the water.
Canadian Coast Guard Search and Rescue divers recovered the remains from the submerged vehicle around 12:50 p.m. after a preliminary search of the area did not locate her.
Tire marks indicated the woman drove off the driveway near her waterfront property, over the rocky embankment and beach and into the ocean.
The submerged car, which was facing perpendicular to the driveway, was seen a short distance from the shoreline.
It is currently unknown what circumstances preceded the accident, but foul play is not expected and the woman was said to be in good health.
The woman was last seen at 1 p.m. yesterday afternoon, and it is currently unknown when the tragic accident occurred within the 24 hour window.
Wright said the woman’s husband was not home at the time, and was unable to reach her by phone yesterday night.
The woman was expected to appear at an engagement in Victoria yesterday night, but it is currently unconfirmed whether she appeared.
Although police would not confirm the identity of the woman, local residents at the scene stated the large property belonged to the prominent Lemire-Elmore family.
A man, reported to be the woman’s husband, was seen sitting on a bench visibly upset on the embankment as the scene unfolded.
A coroner was called to the scene.
