A tragic search has ended in Kelowna, B.C., where a missing driver was found dead nearly 47 metres deep in Okanagan Lake after being swept away by a massive mudslide earlier this month. The slide, which occurred April 1 along Westside Road, unleashed more than 20,000 tons of debris onto the highway and into the lake, forcing a full road closure.
The Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) team initially responded with boats and drones but poor visibility in the sediment-filled water hindered early efforts. Days later, RCMP launched a missing person investigation after personal items — including a boot, vehicle parts, and household objects — were discovered in the debris. These led authorities to suspect a driver had been caught in the slide.
The landslide was triggered by a dammed creek that had built up excessive water pressure, eventually bursting with enough force to uproot trees as tall as seven metres. The area, previously weakened by wildfires, was highly susceptible to such erosion.
COSAR, in collaboration with Vernon SAR and RCMP, spent nearly 1,000 volunteer hours scouring land and water using search dogs, drones, and boats. On Saturday, the submerged vehicle and its occupant were finally located. RCMP’s underwater recovery team is handling the recovery process.
The slide’s force and the eventual discovery underscore the environmental risks in wildfire-affected terrain, especially during seasonal shifts. COSAR expressed its condolences to the victim’s family, acknowledging the emotional toll of the search.
Source: Swifteradio.com
