Online Memorial Launched Following Trans-Canada Highway Collision

An online fundraising campaign has been established to assist a grieving Kamloops family after a two-vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Chase claimed two lives. The crash occurred around 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, involving a Honda Civic and a Mercedes SUV.

First responders reported that 47-year-old Denise Sellars and her 11-year-old son, Kayden, were traveling in the Honda and died in the crash. The driver of the Mercedes sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital for medical care.

Community Honors Victims

Organized by Trinity B to assist the surviving family members in the coming months, the GoFundMe campaign set a goal of $11,000 and had collected nearly $7,500 shortly after publication. Sellars and her son leave behind her partner Luther, along with her older children, Tristan and Malia.

“Denise was a bright, beautiful light, with an infectious laugh and smile,” organizer Trinity B wrote. “She inspired us to lighten up and be the best version of ourselves. She was a spiritual warrior, a knowledge holder and a language warrior, too.” The organizer added that Sellars’ classmates selected her as valedictorian, noting, “We knew you were the bravest of us all.” Her loss has had a profound impact across her community and Secwepemcúl̓ecw.

Trinity also shared memories of 11-year-old Kayden, describing him as a boy with a large heart who was “the [first] to go without if he wants to share with [you],” and noted that “Those who knew him remember a sweetheart who always made sure to say, ‘Good morning.’”

Police Investigation Ongoing

Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the fatal incident. BC RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Brett Urano offered condolences in a statement, noting, “The loss of life in any incident is tragic, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of those affected during this incredibly difficult time.”

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the event or captured video footage along that stretch of highway between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Oct. 1 to contact the Chase RCMP at 250-679-3221, citing file 2026-2282.

Preventing Sewer Overflows During Holiday Gatherings

As Central Okanagan families come together for Thanksgiving between Oct. 10 and Oct. 12, regional officials are offering guidance to keep home plumbing systems safe. Disposing of fats, oils and cooking grease improperly remains the primary reason sewer lines block and overflow throughout the community.

Kit Caufield, Manager of Engineering Services for the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO), explained that grease accumulation inside pipe infrastructure restricts wastewater flow over time. Caufield noted that “Over time, grease builds up inside pipes, restricting wastewater flow and creating problems not only for homeowners, but across the entire sewer system. These blockages can damage household plumbing, result in costly repairs and interfere with critical wastewater infrastructure, including sewer lift stations,”

Proper Waste Disposal Guidelines

To prevent damage to both private plumbing and public infrastructure like sewer lift stations, the RDCO recommends catching leftover food particles using a drain basket or strainer. Residents should pour warm cooking fats into a covered tin container, which can be lined with a cooking bag if intended for reuse. After the grease cools and hardens, the container should be sealed and discarded in the trash.

Additionally, fatty foods such as salad dressings, mayonnaise, and other sauces must be thrown into the garbage rather than rinsed down sinks. For larger quantities of used cooking oil, individuals can take up to two 20-litre pails to the Glenmore Landfill for recycling, though commercial amounts are prohibited. Further details can be found on the RDCO website.

Conservative Plan Focuses on Rural ER Closures

Speaking outside 100 Mile District General Hospital on Monday, Oct. 5, Lorne Doerkson announced that a B.C. Conservative government would establish a $50-million emergency fund to support rural medical practices. Doerkson, the party’s interim leader and incumbent MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin, said the funding aims to prevent closures and assist with recruitment.

During the campaign stop, Doerkson noted that the local emergency department had experienced 39 announced shutdowns throughout 2026, though last-minute locum coverage allowed Interior Health to reopen the facility on several of those occasions. Overall, the ER remained closed well over 30 times. Doerkson pledged to maintain approved 2026 healthcare funding levels, fast-track credentials for foreign-trained Canadian physicians, and recognize provincial medical qualifications automatically to aid frontline staffing.

Community Impact and NDP Response

Former Cariboo-Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett joined Doerkson, emphasizing that local residents and seniors rely on the emergency room, with some traveling up to an hour and a half for care. Local resident Amber Vigh, whose nine-year-old son Carter died at the hospital from an asthma attack in 2023, also voiced support for keeping the facility open continuously.

In response, B.C. NDP leader David Eby and party representatives criticized the Conservative proposal, questioning how the party would fund its healthcare promises without making service cuts. The NDP pointed to their own strategy of funding system investments through a proposed tax on high earners and millionaires. Doerkson countered that the proposed tax could deter new physicians from moving to British Columbia or prompt current doctors to leave.