UPDATE: Highway crash claims two lives in Shuswap; one was WHL player’s relative

Apr 7, 2021 | 9:00 AM

Residents of Salmon Arm and Sicamous died in a crash on the Trans Canada Highway in the Shuswap on Tuesday.

On April 6, just after 1 p.m., RCMP from Sicamous and RCMP Traffic Services responded to a report of a serious two vehicle head-on collision seven kilometers east of Sicamous on the Trans Canada Highway.

“The subsequent investigation found the 73-year-old male driver of a westbound pickup truck from Sicamous crossed the centre line colliding with an eastbound sedan driven by a 46-year-old female from Salmon Arm. Sadly, both drivers were deceased upon arrival of first responders. There were no other occupants of the vehicles. Road and weather conditions were not contributing factors,” Sgt. Chad Badry, West Kootenay Traffic Services, stated.

The Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League revealed on Wednesday (April 7) that the man who died in the crash was Garth Bedard, grandfather of player Connor Bedard.

Bedard, from North Vancouver, was selected by the Pats first overall in the 2020 WHLeague bantam draft as the first ever WHL player of exceptional status. The 15-year-old centre will be eligible for the NHL entry draft in 2023, and is already the projected number one pick by some analysts.

Advocates for Agricultural Cost Supports

Coldstream still on the fence about joining municipal agricultural initiative

20h ago

Limit to 30% Allotted Water

Further water restrictions coming for North Okanagan agricultural properties, special meeting with details scheduled

Jul 10, 2026

Water Capacity, Systems Evaluations

Coldstream seeking public input for water supply consideration

Jul 10, 2026

Please see our statement regarding Connor Bedard’s grandfather Garth Bedard, who passed away Tuesday in a motor vehicle accident near Sicamous, B.C. pic.twitter.com/zPeDKUUvAc

— Regina Pats (@WHLPats) April 7, 2021

The highway was closed for several hours while police completed their investigation at the scene and the vehicles and debris were removed.

“The BC RCMP will work cooperatively with the BC Coroner’s Service who will complete their own inquiry into the cause of the deaths,” Badry added.

Anyone with information about the collision or with dash camera footage should contact RCMP Traffic Services out of Golden at 250-344-2221.

April 6 story: Trans Canada Highway closed in Shuswap after major collision

RCMP say the Trans Canada Highway is closed east of Sicamous as a result of a major collision.

Staff Sgt. Scott West of Salmon Arm RCMP said at 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, two vehicles were involved.

“The collision necessitated the closure as the police investigation continues,” West stated.

Drive BC said the highway is closed in both directions due to a vehicle incident 3 km east of Sicamous. Next update time will be Tue. Apr. 6 at 3:30 p.m. PDT.

Click here for updates fro Drive BC.

No further information is being released at this time.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

by Pete McIntyre

View Comments