Merritt councillor possible victim of fatal hit and run, according to RCMP

A city councillor in Merritt, B.C., has died after being hit by a vehicle, and a statement from the police suggests it may have been a hit-and-run.

Coun. Claire Newman died after a collision near Valemount, more than 400 kilometres north of Merritt, according to a statement from the City of Merritt. RCMP have confirmed that a 46-year-old woman was killed along Highway 16 shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Police said they found the woman, who was already dead, in a ditch near a Nissan Frontier. The vehicle was running and unlocked, and there was a dog inside the vehicle, according to the RCMP.

Evidence at the scene suggested that the woman may have been outside of her car and was struck by a vehicle, say police. They also say they located a headlight assembly nearby that they have identified as coming from a grey 2016 to 2018 Jeep Cherokee. 

Newman had been travelling to pick up a family member, said Merritt Mayor Michael G. Goetz.

"She had sent me an a text earlier on in the evening letting me know that she was heading to Valemount to pick up her husband because his car had broken down."

Goetz said Newman was an invaluable community member and a cherished councillor.

"She was our light and our true leader and our rah-rah person," he said. 

"Claire always was on on point and was always ready and was always there for her community ... just a a real cheerleader and a real pleasant person to be around and the city [has] a huge hole in it today because of this."

"My council took it very hard this morning," Goetz added.

In an earlier statement, Goetz wrote that he was a better person because of Newman, and "to her family and friends, I offer my deepest sympathies. Claire you will be missed."

Newman was elected last fall to city council in Merritt, a community of roughly 7,000 in the province's southern Interior.

"I have loved working with Claire," wrote Merritt CAO Sean Smith. "She was vibrant, curious, and had a passion for people that was contagious. Saying goodbye to friends is hard. I will miss her. And on behalf of all city staff, our sincere condolences go out to her family."

Newman had previously been a councillor in the District of Logan Lake since 2008.

Both communities are lowering flags to half-mast in wake of her death.

Staff in Merritt will gather in honour of Newman instead of holding a regular city council meeting on July 11.

Valemount RCMP are looking to speak with anyone who may have been in the area between 11 p.m. on Tuesday and just after midnight on Wednesday, or who might have relevant dashcam footage.