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One dead after family of five submerged in Elk River
One person is dead and two children are in severe condition after a Sunday afternoon motor vehicle accident west of Fernie.
On December 1, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Elk Valley RCMP from Fernie and East Kootenay Traffic Services responded to a collision on Highway 3 about eight km west of Fernie.
A single family of five was returning home to Coaldale, Alberta, when their vehicle left the roadway on a straight stretch of the highway and plunged into the Elk River. The vehicle, a white Chevrolet minivan, came to rest upside down in the river.
A passing motorist and his girlfriend went down into the river and rescued all five occupants from the mini-van.
Witnesses at the scene and RCMP members engaged in CPR on the female passenger but tragically, she was pronounced dead at the Fernie Hospital.
RCMP members and a traveling physician managed to revive a four-year old child by conducting CPR on the child. The male driver and one of his children were treated at Sparwood Hospital with minor injuries including hypothermia. The other two children were transported to Alberta Children’s Hospital by air ambulance with severe injuries.
Road conditions at the time of the collision were slushy on the center of the roadway way due to an overnight snowfall.
Investigation into the collision appears that the minivan may have been attempting a pass and lost control on the slushy centre area of the roadway.
The Fernie man who helped rescue the family was treated for hypothermia and released from hospital.
Investigation into the collision is continuing.
East Kootenay Traffic Services – RCMP
