Bystanders couldn’t have saved woman from fiery crash

VERNON – It wouldn’t have mattered if bystanders were able to remove the driver of a crashed van before it burst into flames last summer on the highway near Enderby.

A coroner’s report says Margaret (Peggy) Armstrong, 49, had already died of multiple traumatic injuries sustained when her Chevy Astro van collided with a semi on Highway 97C. Her two-year-old grandson, who was in the backseat, was rescued by bystanders just moments before the van became fully engulfed in flames. They were unable to extract Armstrong in time. 

Witnesses told police Armstrong's northbound van was weaving on the road, dipping across the centre line before swerving into the southbound lane where it crashed into the semi.

B.C. Coroner Andrew Cave said no reason could be determined as to why the van swerved into the wrong lane. It was impossible to examine the van because it was totally destroyed in the fire. Cave ruled the death accidental and made no recommendations.

Armstrong’s grandson emerged with only minor injuries.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call (250)309-5230.