Merritt councillor died in hit-and-run on remote stretch of highway: RCMP

VALEMOUNT, B.C. — RCMP looking into the death of a Merritt city councillor say its likely she was outside of her vehicle when she was hit and killed.

Valemount RCMP say Mounties were alerted to the incident by a cell phone’s automated crash notification just after midnight Wednesday morning (July 5).

Attending officers found the scene on Highway 16 near Lucerne Lake, just west of the Alberta border. A Nissan Frontier was running at that location, unlocked and with a dog inside. No other vehicles were in the area.

A woman’s body was found in the ditch and down an embankment near the vehicle. The victim has been identified as Merritt city councillor Claire Newman.

Investigators looking into the incident believe Newman was outside of her car when she was struck. The headlight assembly, grey in colour and belonging to a 2016-2018 Jeep Cherokee, was found at the scene.

In addition to wanting to speak to the driver, RCMP would also like to speak to anyone who may have been in the area from 11:00 p.m. Tuesday night until shortly after midnight.

Anyone with further information on dashcam video is asked to contact Valemount RCMP at (250) 566-4466.