On Sunday, May 24 around 8:20 a.m., Northern Rockies Traffic Services and Emergency Services responded to a fatal collision on Highway 97 at the 505 kilometre mark near Kledo Creek.

A northbound commercial truck hauling groceries had drifted onto the soft shoulder of the highway. The driver attempted corrective action, however the trailer's wheels got into the soft shoulder as well, pulling the whole rig off the road where it crashed, coming to rest on the passenger side.

The driver, a man in his fifties from Alberta, was taken to hospital to be treated for serious, but non-life threatening injuries. The female passenger, a woman in her 60's also from Alberta, was ejected in the collision and died at the scene from her injuries. Speed and impairment are not being considered as contributing factors to this collision.

Northern Rockies Traffic Services, the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service, Commercial Vehicle and Safety Enforcement officers and the BC Coroners' Service continue to investigate the cause of this crash. Highway 97 was fully re-opened at approximately 6:45 p.m.

Police would like to remind motorists of the importance of wearing seatbelts at all times, as they are designed to keep you in your seat and contained within the vehicle, lessening the chance of injury or death if you are involved in a collision.

Anyone with information regarding this collision who has not spoken with police is asked to contact Northern Rockies Traffic Services at 250-774-3883.