Authorities are calling for witnesses after a 21-year-old Vancouver woman died following a “mysterious” single-vehicle accident on Highway 5. Despite the crash occurring during the day on one of BC’s busiest routes, investigators have no clear explanation for how the vehicle left the roadway.
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On the morning of Saturday, December 27, a white Toyota Yaris was traveling southbound on the Coquihalla Highway near Hope. Between 11:50 a.m. and 12:20 p.m., the car veered off the road and plummeted down a steep embankment between the Sowaqua Creek chain-up area and Othello Road.
The driver was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition but tragically passed away from her injuries on Monday, December 29.
The “Mysterious” Gap
BC Highway Patrol is treating the case as unusual for several reasons:
- The Timing: The crash happened in broad daylight during a peak travel window, yet no one has reported seeing the car leave the road.
- The Evidence: There are currently no clear indications of what caused the vehicle to lose control.
- The Investigation: Police are working to rule out mechanical failure, medical distress, or the involvement of another vehicle that may have fled the scene.
“It is very rare for an incident like this to happen on such a busy corridor without any witnesses coming forward,” a spokesperson for the BC Highway Patrol stated.
Urgent Call for Dashcam Footage
Investigators are specifically asking anyone who was driving southbound on Highway 5 near Hope between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on December 27 to review their dashcam footage. Even if you did not witness the crash, your footage may have captured the white Toyota Yaris or other vehicles in the area at the time.
If you have information, please contact:
- Agency: BC Highway Patrol (Chilliwack)
- Phone: 604-702-4039
- Reference File: 2025-54575
