Police are still trying to determine the cause of an accident that claimed the life of a 17-year-old Vernon teen.
Mercedes Mari-Lynne Fraser died Friday from injuries she sustained when the bicycle she was riding was struck by a car at 25th Avenue and 37th Street at about 6:30 a.m.
“It could be a few months before all of the reports are in,” said Gord Molendyk, RCMP spokesperson.
“There is the crash analyst and there will be a vehicle inspection. We are still very much at the beginning of the investigation.”
The investigation will consider the 64-year-old Vernon woman operating the car.
“Is there a medical condition? What are the circumstances behind why the individual crashed?” said Molendyk.
The driver was taken to hospital with injuries sustained during the accident.
Fraser was entering Grade 12 at Clarence Fulton Secondary and she was working at the Vernon Cadet Camp for the summer, as well as delivering The Morning Star.
She was also involved in the Queen Silver Star program and was her fifth year in air cadets.
As a result of the accident, the RCMP are issuing an advisory to cyclists and motorists.
“We are getting calls from drivers upset that cyclists are not in the shoulder but cyclists are entitled to be on the (travel portion of the) road,” said Molendyk.
“Share the road and be cognizant of each other.”
Fraser was in the bicycle lane at the time of the accident.
