By Doug Collins

Lillooet-area resident dies in early morning crash at Pavilion Lake

Dec 30, 2016 | 5:36 PM

LILLOOET, B.C. —  Winter weather and speed are believed to be involved in the death of a Lillooet-area female this morning at Pavilion Lake.

RCMP were called out just before 8:00 AM this morning after getting a call about an SUV that had gone off Highway 99 and crashed into Pavilion Lake near Stanley Road at Pavilion.

The lake was covered with ice at the time. 

The Ford Explorer was heading south on Highway 99 when the female driver and lone occupant lost control on the winter roads.

The truck went over an embankment and crashed into the lake. 

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People who happened by the scene minutes after the accident tried to get to the vehicle and see if they could get anyone out, but the ice started to crack and the rescuers had to get off the ice.

Eventually, with the help of a tow truck, the vehicle was pulled from the lake, where it had been partially submerged.

Police believe that because of damage to the SUV, it’s likely that the driver was killed immediately.

No names have been released, but police say the victim was an area resident.

Central Interior Traffic services from Ashcroft attended the scene with a collision analyst from Kamloops. The investigation is continuing.

Police think it’s likely that speed relative to driving conditions was a factor in the crash, but are still looking at the cause of the mishap.

RCMP are urging motorists to drive carefully with the winter weather, especially with the amount of snow that has fallen on area roads in the past week.