Search for car reportedly in Shuswap River hampered by very fast water

LUMBY – The search for a vehicle that reportedly plunged into Shuswap River is on hold.

Pete Wise with Vernon Search and Rescue says volunteers are waiting for direction from the RCMP on what to do next.

Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle enter the water near the Shuswap Falls bridge at Wiltsey dam Saturday night. Wise says there are marks down the embankment into the river.

“We’re hoping that if there was anyone in there they got out,” Wise says. “We did a ground search with the Lumby Fire Department, but didn’t find anyone.”

Over 20 volunteers from Vernon search and rescue joined the search efforts Sunday.

“The water is very fast moving and very deep,” Wise says. “It (suspected location of the vehicle) is in a position where it’s very precipitous. There’s a big cliff face there.”

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca or call 250-309-5230. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

—This story was edited at 9:20 a.m. June 16 to add information from Pete Wise.