Police ID woman missing in mudslide near Cache Creek
RCMP confirm they are searching for 67-year old Valerie Morris, who may be trapped in a vehicle
Police are still searching for a woman who is missing and possibly trapped in a car hit by a mudslide near Cache Creek almost three days ago.
In a statement, RCMP said 67-year-old Valerie Morris is still unaccounted for after a slide flowed onto Highway 99 and swept the car she was in off the road.
Ashcroft RCMP were alerted to the slide near the Upper Hat Creek Road junction at 5 p.m. PT Saturday.
According to RCMP, Morris's and her husband were travelling in a group of six vehicles en route to Kamloops from Vancouver.
RCMP say Morris's husband had pulled over to the side of the road to put up the top on the couple's 1968 Morgan convertible and was outside the vehicle when the mudslide struck.
Morris and the car were swept over an embankment.
Morris's husband suffered minor injuries from the slide, RCMP say. Both he and Morris were from Sechelt.
Witnesses sought
Police have released a description of Morris and are asking the public to notify them if she is seen.
She is described as:
- Caucasian.
- Five feet two inches tall.
- 113 pounds.
- Auburn hair with hazel eyes.
Police are also asking for any witnesses to the incident or anyone with dashcam of the vehicle before or after the slide to contact Ashcroft RCMP.
Search hampered
"The search effort continues, but there's some significant water flowing though that area that is hampering some of the search effort," said Shoihet.
"We are continuing with the help of police dog services, and search and rescue is expected to get into that area in the coming days."
South Cariboo mudslides cleanup continues. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy99?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy99</a> remains closed at Hat Creek Corner. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy1</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BCHwy97?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BCHwy97</a> are open. Check major event updates with <a href="https://twitter.com/DriveBC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DriveBC</a> <a href="https://t.co/glQKUwQcpm">https://t.co/glQKUwQcpm</a> <a href="https://t.co/ihCUDeJSmJ">pic.twitter.com/ihCUDeJSmJ</a>
—@TranBCAccording to DriveBC, Highway 99 remains closed in both directions with no detour available.
A number of mudslides hit the Cache Creek area Saturday after heavy rain moved through the region.
With files from Liam Britten
Corrections
- In an earlier version of this story, RCMP said Mr. Morris escaped from the car when it was hit by the mudslide. In fact, he was outside the car when the slide hit, police later confirmed. They also say Ms. Morris is 67, not 57 as police originally reported and that the group was travelling to Kamloops from Vancouver, not from Kamloops to Vancouver.Aug 14, 2018 12:33 PM PT