The Oliver community is mourning the death of 47-year-old Beverly Anne Louie who died after her vehicle careened down a 100-foot embankment off Nk’Mip Road early Monday morning.

In a press release early Tuesday afternoon, Laurie Wilson from Okanagan Nation said the family of Beverly Louie would like to thank everyone for the prayers and good wishes being sent to the family.

“They want you to know that the fight for justice for Roxanne Louie continues and they will continue to ensure her child is cared for and protected,” Wilson said.

Beverly Louie was the mother of Roxanne Louie, a young woman who was found murdered in Penticton last year.

“The family requests privacy to mourn and process this overwhelming loss. The community and family thank you for your cooperation and support during this very sad time,” Wilson said.

Osoyoos RCMP said that a passerby on Nk’Mip Road observed vehicle lights shining from the embankment just north of Osoyoos and reported it at 5 a.m.

“The vehicle, a GMC Jimmy, appears to have gone off road left and down the embankment coming to rest on its wheels,” said Cpl. Jason Bayda. “The lone occupant, a 47-year-old female resident of Oliver, was deceased at the scene,” he noted.

Rob Graham, spokesman for the Oliver Fire Department, said an officer on scene determined that it was a recovery operation as opposed to a rescue.

Members conducted a search of the area to ensure nobody else was involved in the accident.

Graham said firefighters used a rope and harness system attached to a rescue basket to bring the woman’s body up the hill.

Members train for this scenario regularly, he pointed out. He said the terrain off Nk’Mip Road (accessed off Black Sage Road) was brushy and sandy, but not overly difficult to traverse.

Osoyoos RCMP continue to investigate the incident and have not indicated what may have caused it.

“It’s still too early to determine the cause,” Bayda said Tuesday.

Barb McLintock from the BC Coroners Service said they were working on the file Tuesday and would confirm more details as quickly as possible.

In one Facebook posting Tuesday, a woman wrote: “You lived in the moment before it was cool. Your sense of humour was wicked and you laughed more than anyone I know. You were fierce and gentle at the same time. You were generous and hardworking. Your strength and ability to persevere were unmatched. Your guidance and wisdom cleverly disguised as casual remarks didn’t go unnoticed. You were an anchor to me.”

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