British Columbia

Boy, 7, and woman killed in Highway 99 crash near Lillooet, B.C.

A seven-year-old boy and a 46-year-old woman are dead after the car in which they were travelling left Highway 99 near Lillooet and went over a steep embankment Friday.

RCMP says car containing family of five went over embankment near Lillooet Friday night

A seven-year-old boy and a 46-year-old woman are dead after the car in which they were travelling left Highway 99 near Lillooet and went over a steep embankment Friday afternoon.

RCMP say the car went over this embankment near Lillooet, B.C. and came to rest on the Fraser River shore below. (Russell Peters/special to the Chief)

Lillooet RCMP Sgt. Mike Eling said a 2005 Toyota Sequoia carrying a family of five crossed the centre line and side-swiped a northbound car with two occupants around 3:47 p.m.PT.

Eling said the collision sent the Toyota plummeting over a steep embankment down to the shores of the Fraser River. He said the 46-year-old driver and his two daughters aged 11 and four managed to get out of the car.

Rescue crews removed the two remaining passengers, a seven-year-old boy and a woman aged 46, who were pronounced dead at the scene, Elling said in a statement.

Police do not believe alcohol was a factor. However, Eling said the Lillooet area was experiencing heavy snowfall and police believe it was a contributing factor in the accident.