The family of a woman killed in a motorcycle crash on East Shuswap Road on Saturday say poor road conditions are to blame.
Family members identified the victim as 38-year-old Alexis Wiltse.
“Our family is heartbroken to let everyone know that Alexis passed away doing what she loved, riding her motorcycle, on Saturday evening,” a post on Facebook said. “We will keep everyone posted as we plan a service. RIP Alexis; our family will never be the same.”
In another post, Jamie Wiltse said her sister died after hitting a large pothole near Miner Road, around 5:25 p.m. Sunday evening.
Police say they arrived on scene Saturday to find people performing first aid on one of the motorcyclists, who later succumbed to her injuries. They say a second motorcyclist was taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Wiltse says people have been complaining about the condition of East Shuswap Road for over a year. She noted B.C.’s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and its road contractor are to blame for her sister’s “totally senseless” death.
“You patch a huge sink hole with a few scoops of gravel?” Jamie said in her post. “After my [38-year-old] sister was killed Saturday while she was riding her motorcycle and hit this beast of a hole. The least you could do is some kind of signage until it’s fixed or just do it properly.”
Mounties say they do not suspect criminality to be a factor in this crash, which is also being investigated by the BC Coroners Service.
In a statement to RadioNL, a Ministry of Transportation spokesperson offered their sympathies to the family of Alexis Wiltse. They also said the road is on the list to be paved this summer.
“The safety of people on our highways and roads is our top priority and our sympathies go out to the family of the victim of the crash,” the statement said. “The incident is currently being investigated, and we are unable to comment on the details or the possible cause.”
“Shuswap Road is scheduled to be repaved this summer construction season. We anticipate that the paving will begin in late summer.”
RadioNL has reached out to the Ministry of Transportation for comment.