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UPDATE - BC Coroner releases the name of Christina Lake accident victim

A young female from Christina Lake was killed instantly when a tree fell on her car while she was driving on Highway 3

A young female from Christina Lake was killed instantly when a tree fell on her car while she was driving on Highway 3 just south of the East Lake Drive turn-off.

Ken Gresley-Jones, fire chief with the Christina Lake Fire Rescue, said they were called to the scene at 2 p.m. on March 26.

“There was a car that was up against the rocks with one occupant trapped inside,” he said. “Initially it was witnessed that it appeared that a tree had fallen down from up above and it landed directly on the driver’s side of the car and it caused the car to hit the rocks. The driver was killed instantly.”

Deceased is Amanda Louise Koppin, aged 33, of Christina Lake. Ms. Koppin was the driver and sole occupant of an SUV that was travelling westbound on Highway 3 at Christina Lake.

Barb McLintock of the BC Coroners Service, which is investigating the death along with West Kootenay Traffic Services, said the vehicle was struck on the roof by a large, dead tree which had fallen from the cliff on the eastern side of the highway.

Gresley-Jones said that traffic on Highway 3 was blocked for several hours while the police and the coroner conducted their investigation.

The coroners service and the West Kootenay Traffic Services are still investigating. No logging or tree-clearing operations were taking place in the area from which the tree fell.

Friends and relatives of the Koppin family have set up a Facebook page (Koppin family fund) and a donation account at the Grand Forks Credit Union for anyone wishing to help out her husband and young child.

Anyone wishing to donate should ask for account #640359 in Ben’s name. Donations can also be sent in by mail (447 Market Ace, PO Box 2500 Grand Forks, BC V0H1H0), in person, or by email transfer to Ben at koppinfamilyfund@gmail.com.

A Gofundme page—www.gofundme.com/qf5np8—has also been set up in the name of the "Koppin Family Fund."