UPDATE: SUV plunges into Okanagan Lake near Penticton; Summerland woman killed

PENTICTON –  The driver of a SUV that plunged into Okanagan Lake from Highway 97 between Penticton and Summerland this morning has died.

South Okanagan Traffic Services media spokesperson Sgt. Harold Hallett confirmed this afternoon, Jan. 4, the 42-year-old Summerland woman behind the wheel died in Penticton Regional Hospital as a result of the injuries sustained in the crash.

No name has been released.

RCMP say the Honda CRV left Highway 97 just before 10 a.m. and slide into the lake about 10 kilometres north of Penticton.

A tow truck used a winch to pull the vehicle from the lake. The driver was removed and taken by ambulance to Penticton Regional Hospital, according to police. 

Police say several bystanders jumped into the lake to help the driver and are being treated for hypothermia.

It’s not known if anyone else was in the SUV, so a RCMP dive team was called to do a search.

The highway was closed due to extremely slippery conditions, but has since reopened.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was corrected at 6:45 a.m. Tuesday, Jan 5. Volunteers were treated for hypothermia. Thanks to reader Mick Harper

— This story was updated at 10:55 a.m., Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 to add new information from RCMP.

— This story was updated at 12:57 p.m., Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 to add more information from RCMP about the driver.

— This story was updated at 2:46 p.m., Monday, Jan.4, 2016 to confirm the driver's death.