Highway accident claims life of Kamloops women

A 22-year-old Kamloops woman was killed Wednesday in a three-vehicle accident near Deep Creek, 31 kilometres east of Smithers.

Shortly before noon, the 2000 Grand Am the woman was driving crossed the centre line, struck a westbound Jeep which left the road and rolled.

After clipping the Jeep, the Grand Am then struck an armoured truck head on.

Cpl. Mike O’Flynn of the Bulkley Valley Traffic Services said rescue crews from both Houston and Smithers reached the scene, but the woman succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

“The driver has been identified and family have been notified,” O’Flynn said. “Her name is not being released at the request of the family.”

The driver of the Jeep, a 24-year-old male from Prince George, along with a 23-year-old male passenger also from Prince George, sustained minor injuries and have been treated and released from Bulkley Valley Hospital.

The driver of the armoured truck, a 37-year-old male from Prince George, was also taken to hospital in Smithers and was released with only minor bruises.

O’Flynn said the highway was bare with compact and icy sections.

“[RCMP] do not believe at this time that alcohol was a contributing factor,” he said. “Seat belts played a significant role in reducing the extent of injury to the occupants of the Jeep and armoured truck.

An RCMP collision reconstructionist from Terrace was called out and Hwy 16 was closed for six hours.

O’Flynn said in a press release on Thursday that the investigation is ongoing.

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