File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Nicola River

Nicola Lake dam to be opened to support crash response off Highway 5A

Jun 20, 2022 | 11:34 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — The City of Merritt is alerting local residents to expect fluctuations in the level of the Nicola River in the coming 24 hours in response to an automobile crash.

Sgt. Josh Roda of Merritt RCMP told Q101 in Merritt a vehicle crashed into Nicola Lake Sunday night (June 19) and remains under water. Authorities are forming a plan to recover the vehicle. There is no word on injuries.

The province says the level of the lake will be increased to allow divers to work at the scene, meaning flows through the dam to the Nicola River will be decreased.

This process is expected to take about 12 hours.

After that, the province says the dam will be reopened, meaning Merritt residents can expect much higher flows on the Nicola in response.

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Ed. note: This story has been corrected from an earlier version.