Family of pedestrian killed in West Kelowna, B.C. crash offer forgiveness to driver

The sister of a woman who recently died in West Kelowna after being struck by a car is reaching out with an unexpected message.

“We want to figure out a way to reach (the driver) and just give our condolences to them because something like that is just so heartbreaking. That person will be haunted forever by an accident that they never intended,” said Tia Marie Salisbury, the sister of Raederele Votary, who died Feb. 4.

“They stayed with (my sister), and my mom really wants to make sure that she lets (them) know that she’s so thankful for them staying with my sister, trying to help her and doing everything that they could. We have no animosity, we have no hatred towards this person.”

From what she’s learned, it wasn’t a case of negligence.

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“There wasn’t any alcohol and there weren’t any drugs involved — the (driver) was going the speed limit,” Salisbury said. “(My sister) was just there and he wasn’t on his phone or distracted driving. Nothing.”

Salisbury has been told the driver just didn’t see Votary, who was walking on Highway 97 near Grizzly Road in West Kelowna when she was fatally struck on Friday night, and she hopes to hear from them to learn more about what happened.

The family has also started a fundraising campaign aimed at raising the $2,500 cost aimed at bringing the body back to Lethbridge, where they’re from

They said if anything extra is raised, they will donate it to a cause close to their hearts; addiction services.

“She’s leaving behind her five-year-old daughter, three sisters, her mom and dad that loved her very much,” she said.

Supports offered to those who suffer from addiction is something they know Votary would have appreciated.

RCMP said that the crash involving Votary happened just after 11 p.m., along the northbound lanes of Highway 97 near Grizzly Road. A police officer on patrol noticed the collision just after it happened.

The road was temporarily closed while police collected evidence and spoke to witnesses.

The B.C. Coroners Service is conducting a parallel investigation.