A 24-year-old woman is presumed drowned after a vehicle went into the North Thompson River in Kamloops on Sunday evening.
Kamloops RCMP say the vehicle left the road near Schubert Drive and Birch Avenue around 6:21 p.m. and entered the river near the confluence of the North and South Thompson rivers.
Police say the water was high and fast-moving at the time.
A 21-year-old female passenger was rescued by three bystanders who jumped into the river to help.
RCMP say witnesses lost sight of the driver as she was carried farther downriver, and the vehicle became submerged.
The passenger and one of the bystanders who helped rescue her were taken to Royal Inland Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Kamloops RCMP, BC Emergency Health Services, Kamloops Search and Rescue and Kamloops Fire Rescue all responded to the scene.
Fire crews launched a rescue boat shortly after the incident, but police say life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.
Search and rescue crews searched the area until nightfall Sunday, with efforts resuming Monday involving Kamloops Fire Rescue, Kamloops Search and Rescue and RCMP Air Services.
Police say searches so far have been unsuccessful.
Supt. Jeff Pelley, officer-in-charge of the Kamloops RCMP detachment, praised the bystanders who entered the fast-moving water to try to rescue the women.
“While the investigation is in the early stages, this appears to be a tragic accident, and we extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the woman who is presumed drowned at this time,” Pelley said.
Police say they are still notifying the woman’s family, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
