Woman killed while rescuing crash victims
A West Kelowna woman was struck and killed as she was helping injured passengers in a Coquihalla Highway crash on Sunday.
The deceased woman was the lone passenger in a lumber truck that was involved in the three-vehicle collision at 6:35 p.m. about 35 kilometres north of Hope.
After the initial three-car pileup, the 54-year-old woman attempted to rescue the two elderly occupants of a 2008 Toyota involved in the crash. A Chevrolet then drove onto the scene and rammed the Toyota she was behind. Her 59-year-old husband watched the crash, Fraser Valley Traffic Services reported.
Two 40-year-old Kamloops men also involved in the crash were assisting her in the rescue. They managed to jump out of the way of the oncoming Chevrolet.
The 62-year-old driver of the Chevrolet, a man from West Kelowna, reported the incident to the Hope RCMP and is co-operating, police said. He initially stopped briefly down the road from the accident, but didn’t return to the scene.
The two occupants of a 2008 Toyota were both injured. A report about their condition hasn’t been released but their injuries aren’t life-threatening.
The vehicles involved in the pileup were moving southbound near the Zopkis brake check.
Preliminary investigation showed that it was snowing at the time, and weather and driver error may have been factors. Alcohol and speed don’t appear to be factors, RCMP said.
The deceased woman’s name is not being released until her family is notified.
Any witnesses are asked to call Fraser Valley Traffic Services Const. Laszlo Bali at 604-702-4039.
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