RCMP release photos of suspect vehicle in hit-and-run that killed a Merritt city councillor

VALEMOUNT, BC — Valemount RCMP released surveillance photos of a vehicle suspected to be involved in a crash that killed a Merritt city councillor.

In a news release issued Monday (Aug. 21), RCMP say the crash that claimed the life of a 46-year-old Merritt woman – later identified as Merritt Councillor Claire Newman – took place between 11:45 p.m. on July 4 and midnight on July 5. It happened on Highway 16 near Lucerne Campground just west of the B.C.–Alberta border.

At midnight, police say a 2016-2018 Jeep Cherokee believed to be involved in the collision was seen driving east along Highway 16 at the Parks Canada gate west of Jasper.

However, the license plate number is not visible, and the Cherokee has no front plate. Once the Cherokee passed through the Parks Canada gate, it is unknown if it travelled south toward Banff or east toward Edmonton. Police say they checked video surveillance at gas stations in both Jasper and Hinton in Alberta, but the Cherokee was not seen on video.