Investigation continues into single vehicle fatality near Penticton

PENTICTON – The Summerland woman who died after her vehicle slid off Highway 97 between Penticton and Summerland was driving below the posted speed limit, police have determined.

Investigators have determined  the 42-year-old Summerland woman was driving below the speed limit just prior to her losing control, RCMP media spokesperson Dan Moskaluk says in a statement Tuesday, Jan.5.

The crash, which took place around 10 a.m. Monday, Jan.4, near Kickininee Park, occurred when the woman, who was driving a southbound 2004 Honda CRV sport utility vehicle  slid across the four-lane divided highway and tumbled end over end down the rocky lakeshore embankment into Okanagan Lake.

Passing motorists stopped to assist prior to arrival of emergency personnel, but the woman succumbed to her injuries later in the day at Penticton Regional Hospital.

RCMP South Okanagan Traffic Services are continuing to investigate the incident, which was captured by another motorist’s dash cam.

Snow was falling and road conditions icy at the time of the incident.

The RCMP cautions drivers to drive to weather conditions and ensure their vehicle is equipped with winter tires.

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