A 52-year-old woman from Creston was killed in a vehicle collision early Wednesday morning, on Highway 3 south of Cranbrook.
Corp. Shayne Parker of East Kootenay Traffic Services told media at the scene that extremely icy roads were likely the cause of the accident.
He said members of East Kootenay Traffic Services and the Cranbrook RCMP detachment responded to reports of a two-vehicle collision about 7:30 a.m. about five kilometres south of Cranbrook.
Police determined that the minivan, heading northbound towards Cranbrook, crossed the centre line and struck a dump truck.
The driver of the van sustained minor injuries and was eventually treated at hospital. But the passenger was trapped in the vehicle, and died at the scene while emergency personnel were trying to extract her. The driver of the truck was unhurt.
The RCMP also said in a press release that speed relative to road conditions was a factor in the accident.