A 46-year-old man, believed to be from Burns Lake, is still missing after the truck he was driving left the roadway, rolled down a steep embankment and entered the Morice River.
The crash occurred 23 km up the Morice River Road on June 30, 2015, close to 3 a.m.
Ambulance, fire and police responded to the accident after locals noticed a woman sitting in the window of the floating truck. After calling 911, the locals threw a rope to the stranded female and pulled her to shore.
Sergeant Stephen Rose with the Houston RCMP said the female was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
A search was conducted last week for the missing driver by both the Houston and the Smithers search and rescue teams.
Bulkley Valley Search and Rescue (SAR) from Smithers brought in two jet boats and two inflatable kayaks for the search. Search manager Whitney Numan said 14 to 17 SAR volunteers were assisting with the search, including water technicians, boat drivers and ground searchers.
While boats scoured the river, Houston SAR members combed the banks of the river on both sides for two kilometres. Numan said the search and rescue teams were focusing on the river.
“The likelihood of him being onshore is next to nothing,” she said. “We have ground searched both sides of the river down two kilometres and there is no sign of him.”
According to Sgt. Rose, the search has now been suspended.
“We’ll recommence at a later date after the river flow decreases,” he said.
Sergeant Rose said he did not have estimate of when searches would recommence.
Houston police and a Prince George traffic analyst are investigating the cause of the accident. Corporal Dave Tyreman, Spokesperson for the RCMP, said alcohol is considered to be factor.
- With files from Jackie Lieuwen