Vehicle that plunged into Okanagan Lake found in deep water, body inside: West Kelowna RCMP

UPDATE:

A search for a vehicle that reportedly plunged into Okanagan Lake on Friday night is now a recovery mission.

West Kelowna RCMP issued a statement on Saturday evening, saying the vehicle was eventually located in deep water, and that a body was found inside the vehicle.

Police say they were called to Westside Road on Friday around 9:15 p.m., for a vehicle that left the road, went down an embankment and likely sank in Okanagan Lake.

“Search and rescue assisted West Kelowna RCMP in the search of the scene, but the search was called off due to poor visibility in the dark of the night,” said West Kelowna RCMP.

“The search resumed early Saturday morning to conduct a full search of the shore and the surrounding water. The vehicle was found deep in the water and it was confirmed that a body was inside.”

RCMP say its underwater recovery team was contacted to access the vehicle, and that the team should arrive on Sunday.

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Police say no more information will be available until Monday.

1:12 Reports of a vehicle falling down an embankment closes Westside Road down to one lane

ORIGINAL STORY:

Emergency officials are searching Okanagan Lake for a vehicle that reportedly lunged down an embankment along Westside Road on Friday evening.

The incident happened just past Bear Lake Main Road, with emergency lights highly visible from across the lake.

It appears first responders spent much of the night on the water, searching the area by boat and looking along the shoreline with flashlights.

Global News reached out to West Kelowna RCMP for more information, but had yet to hear back from police.

On Saturday, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue said it was called out to assist at 8 a.m., and that its boat team was on the lake with an underwater camera.

A BC Emergency Health Services spokesperson confirmed ambulances were also dispatched to the scene Friday night, but no one was transported to hospital.

The area between Traders Cove and Wilsons Landing was down to single-lane, alternating traffic overnight and into the morning while crews were on scene.

Global News will update this story when more information is available.