Connection made in missing woman, submerged vehicle incident
By Timothy Schafer
There could be a second victim claimed by the swollen and swift moving waters of the Goat River, RCMP said Friday.
The woman who went missing from Creston almost two weeks ago and the tragic death of the Ymir search and rescue volunteer are also connected, Creston RCMP revealed.
Police confirmed the vehicle recovered from the Goat River this week was that of missing person Lana Chipesia of Creston. No occupants were found in the vehicle when it was examined.
Since the vehicle was empty when it was recovered RCMP are assuming Chipesia has drowned. RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said the search has been suspended as the river is swollen and running fast.
The 23-year-old resident of the Lower Kootenay Band Reserve has not been seen since June 18. Chipesia was last seen at her residence on the reserve after she was involved in a minor police complaint.
Before police arrived, Chipesia left her home in a white 1997 Pontiac Sunfire, B.C. licence plate 083 THK. Since then, Chipesia’s family still has not heard from her and they are concerned about her personal safety and well-being.
Ymir resident Sheilah Sweatman’s body was recovered from the Goat River around noon Thursday, a day after she was swept down the river while the swift water rescue team she was on attended the scene of Chipesia’s submerged vehicle.
Sweatman, 29, a volunteer with Kootenay Swift Water Specialists Team, had approximately two years of service with SAR.
The SAR team had confirmed there were no other occupants in the submerged vehicle. Two local tow trucks attended to assist in pulling the vehicle out of the river after SAR technicians worked at securing the vehicle.
The BC Coroners Services confirmed Sweatman drowned Wednesday during the search and rescue operation near Creston.
Chipesia is described as five feet four inches, about 119 lb. and with shoulder-length black hair. Anyone with information is asked to call Creston RCMP at 250-428-9313.
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