Ferry crew rescues woman spotted in Upper Arrow Lake

It was anything but an ordinary shift for crew aboard the Upper Arrow Lake Ferry when they spotted a woman in the water, waving for help in the early hours on Tuesday morning.

The crew spotted the woman in the water at the Shelter Bay ferry terminal just after midnight on October 13. The crew launched a rescue boat to help the 51-year-old Elk Valley woman. Later investigation found the woman had driven her Ford Fusion off the end of the loading ramp.

In a statement, Revelstoke RCMP said police received a report of the incident around 12:17 a.m. Emergency first responders attended the ferry terminal after the woman was pulled from the water. A commercial dive team and tow company attended the crash site Tuesday morning to pull the vehicle from the lake.

“Investigators believe that the woman was alone inside her Ford Fusion, which was discovered fully submerged below the ramp. The location of the motor vehicle prevented the ferry from being able to safely dock and load and unload passengers,” said Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey, spokesman for the RCMP Southeast District.

While no information is provided about the circumstances that may have caused the woman to drive her car off the ramp, front line police did ensure the woman had an examination to ensure her physical and mental well-being. It is not believed any intoxicating substances were involved in the incident. No other details about the woman’s health or any injuries were provided in the report.

The investigation remains ongoing at this time, being led by Revelstoke RCMP.