BURST
A 24-year-old woman is presumed drowned after the vehicle she was driving plunged into the fast-moving North Thompson River in Kamloops on Sunday.
Police say the vehicle left the road near Schubert Drive and Birch Avenue at around 6:21 p.m. A passenger in the vehicle was rescued by three bystanders, who jumped into the river to help.
The passenger, a 21-year-old woman, and one of the bystanders were taken to Royal Inland Hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Witnesses at the scene lost sight of the driver as she was carried further down the high-running river and the vehicle became submerged. A rescue boat was in the water shortly after the incident, but couldn’t locate the driver. Search efforts resumed on Monday.
“The Kamloops RCMP wishes to recognize the bystanders for their bravery as they attempted to rescue the women despite the fast-moving water,” said Supt. Jeff Pelley. “While the investigation is in the early stages, this appears to be a tragic accident.”
The Kamloops RCMP is still in the process of notifying the driver’s family.