Crash victims mourned

Photo: Facebook

UPDATE: 12:20 p.m.

Residents in Enderby have been left reeling over a weekend crash in Vernon that killed two young women, one from the community.

Carlee De Boer, 21, was pronounced dead at the scene on Highway 6 at Waddington Drive early Sunday morning.

The other female who was killed has been identified on social media as 21-year-old Paige Whitelaw. 

De Boer and Whitelaw are believed to have been roommates, attending Okanagan College in Kelowna.

Mayor Greg McCune said two male passengers injured in the crash are also from Enderby.

“It is a sad time and it is affecting everyone,” said McCune, who employed De Boer at one time.

“These are three large families, well-established in the community, so it is a real struggle for people.”

“Carlee was very involved in sports,” McCune added. A Facebook picture shows De Boer with her hockey team, with tributes from former teammates.

ORIGINAL

Friends have revealed the names of two young women killed in a car crash in the North Okanagan over the weekend.

Paige Whitelaw and Carlee De Boer died early Sunday morning when the vehicle they were travelling in left Highway 6 and rolled several times.

Friends of the 21-year-old women took to Facebook to grieve.

“March 6 was the worst day of my life,” wrote a friend of De Boer on Facebook. “I still can't believe this is real. I love you so much and I don't want you to be gone.”

The crash happened on Highway 6 at Waddington Drive, where the driver of a white 2013 GMC Sierra pickup truck couldn’t negotiate a curve in the road and veered off the asphalt. Police say speed and alcohol were possible factors.

Five people were in the vehicle at the time.

The women were pronounced dead at the scene.

A friend of Whitelaw wrote on Facebook: “You have touched the lives of so many in such a short period of time and through us you will live on forever.”

Police and the Coroners Service are investigating.