Update: Two missing teens were located decreased after a vehicle crashed into the Pend d’Oreille River on Sunday.
“The conditions were difficult and the recovery operation took a significant amount of time to complete,” says Sergeant Chad Badry with West Kootenay Traffic Services.
The water level had to be lowered with help from the Dam authority and BC Hydro. The vehicle was also found by the RCMP’s Underwater Recovery Team yesterday.
The BC Coroners Service has been notified and will also be investigating.
Anyone who may have witnessed the vehicles driving prior to the crash, witnessed the crash, or saw the group of teens just prior to the crash is asked to contact West Kootenay Traffic Services at 250-354-5180.
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Police attended to a single vehicle crash on Seven Mile Dam Road near Trail on Sunday, March 17, which has likely resulted in two fatalities. RCMP with West Kootenay Traffic Services and Trail and District Detachment arrived at approximately 4:12 pm. A Volkswagon Beetle driven by a female from Salmo, drove off the road at a curve, went down a steep embankment, and into the Pend d’Oreille River. According to West Kootenay Traffic, the driver and front passenger, a 15 year old female from Warfield, managed to get out of the submerged vehicle and to the surface, but two other occupants did not surface. A 15 year old male and 18 year old female both from Fruitvale are missing and presumed deceased.
Seven Mile Dam Road was closed for several hours while emergency personnel completed examination of the scene. Members of the RCMP Underwater Recovery Team are on scene today to attempt to locate and recover the vehicle and remaining occupants. Sergeant Chad Badry with the RCMP West Kootenay Traffic asks that drivers avoid the area while the RCMP continue to investigate the cause of this tragic crash.
Anyone with information about the collision is asked to call West Kootenay Traffic Services at 250-354-5180.