Police have identified the man who apparently drowned when his truck went over an embankment at Cruikshank Point and into Shuswap Lake.
The body of Gurminder Singh Minhas, 30, of Grande Prairie was discovered by an RCMP dive team submerged near the cab of the semi truck that went over an embankment and into Shuswap Lake west of Sorrento. There was no one else in the truck at the time of the crash.
The body was removed from the lake at approximately 3 p.m. Tuesday, and the rig was later removed from the water.
The trailer had Alberta licence plates and the logo on the cab indicates the truck belongs to Syndicate Transport Ltd., a company based out of Calgary.
RCMP investigations reveal the truck may have gone into the lake earlier than previously thought, possibly around 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 4.
Police were alerted by a passing motorist who saw the trailer floating in the lake Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. The cab of the truck was submerged in 10 feet of water.
Cpl. Mark Skotnicki said police believe the weight shifted on the westbound truck, causing it to flip onto the barrier, where it went over the embankment and slid several metres.
The trailer, which had detached from the rig and floated downstream, was pulled from the water after Shuswap Search and Rescue crews were able to attach cables to the floating vehicle and pull it close enough to haul it out.
Ministry of Environment officials assessed the site for spilled diesel fuel and other possible contaminants.
A hazardous materials firm was called in and used an absorbent boom to contain diesel fuel in the area, but the ministry reports there does not appear to be an immediate environmental risk.
The truck was transporting a load of frozen meat, some of which was found floating in the lake.
