Fatal Okanagan car crash wreckage removed from canyon

NEAR KELOWNA – There was an aerial recovery mission Friday in a rugged canyon near Kelowna.

The job presented some technical challenges but it was was much more difficult on an emotional level.

Curtis Nyuli, the Joe Rich fire chief and the father of a young woman killed in a horrific car crash, arranged for the mangled wreckage to be removed by helicopter.

“It’s one of the last pieces of the puzzle for sure, out of respect, to get it taken care of.” says Nyuli.

Alexandra Nyuli, 21, was killed in January when her car left Highway 33 and plunged over a 120 metre cliff.

She was a night shift worker in the health care industry.

“We’re assuming she just didn’t get a lot of sleep the night before and that’s what happened, driver fatigue and fell asleep. We recovered her cell phone and there’s no evidence she was texting,” says her father.

Hiring a helicopter to remove the wreckage would normally cost thousands of dollars.

But when Nyuli inquired with Valhalla Helicopters of West Kelowna, he says a company representative phoned back within minutes.

“Saying don’t worry, when the chopper is available we’ll get it there and get it done for you at no cost. Wow. Thank you so much.”

It’s one of many gestures of support the Nyuli family has received.

“That’s one of the really cool things, we’ve been really blessed by the community, just fantastic. It’s really amazing and it does help, it does make a difference,” says the fire chief.