A 54-year-old woman from West Kelowna has died following a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 5 Sunday.
Fraser Valley Traffic Services responded to the scene, approximately 35 kilometres north of Hope, at about 6:35 p.m. Three vehicles, a 2008 Toyota, a 2008 Ford and a 2007 International commercial vehicle hauling lumber were traveling southbound on the Coquihalla Highway near the Zopkis brake check. The vehicles subsequently collided with one another and ended up coming to rest both on the travelled portion of the roadway as well as the shoulder.
The two occupants of the Toyota, a 66-year-old woman and a 67-year-old man from Langley, were both injured.
While the two 40-year-old male occupants of the 2008 Ford from Kamloops and the 54-year-old woman from West Kelowna, who had been a passenger in the commercial vehicle, rendered medical assistance to the injured, a fourth vehicle, a 2008 Chevrolet driven by a 62-year-old man from West Kelowna, drove through the collision scene and struck the Toyota.
The two men from Kamloops were able to leap to safety, however the 54-year-old woman from West Kelowna was struck by the stationary Toyota after the Chevrolet struck it while her 59-year-old husband witnessed the crash.
She was taken to Fraser Canyon Hospital in Hope where she succumbed to her injuries. Her name has not been released yet pending notification of next of kin.
The driver of the Chevrolet stopped briefly down the road from the collision scene however, did not return to the scene and chose to drive to Hope where he attended the RCMP detachment. Police said he’s been cooperating with the investigators.
Primary investigation reveals that it was snowing at the time of the collision, which may have been a factor in this collision along with driver inattention. Police said speed and alcohol do not appear to be factors at this time.
Anyone who witnessed this collision and has not spoken to the police, is asked to contact Const. Laszlo Bali of Fraser Valley Traffic Services at 604-702-4039.
