Image credit: Roger White/Q101-Merritt and Valemount RCMP

By Aaron Schulze

Suspect May Be In Alberta

“Give people the closure they need”: daughter of late Merritt city councillor renews plea for information

Jul 16, 2024 | 3:47 PM

VALEMOUNT, B.C. — The daughter of late Merritt city councillor Claire Newman is asking anyone with information on the hit-and-run incident that killed her mother to come forward.

In a video posted by Valemount RCMP, Lauren Newman emphasized the importance of doing the right thing.

“Car accidents happen all the time,” Newman states. “Things happen all the time. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do the right thing and come forward and give people the closure they need.”

RCMP say the crash that claimed the life of Claire Newman took place between 11:45 p.m. on July 4 and midnight on July 5. It happened on Highway 16 near Lucerne Campground just west of the B.C.–Alberta border.

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At midnight, police say a 2016-2018 Jeep Cherokee believed to be involved in the collision was seen driving east along Highway 16 at the Parks Canada gate west of Jasper. BC RCMP believe the suspect may be in Alberta.

Lauren says the Newman family have gone through many challenges over the year since Claire’s death.

“We have had her service on September 2023,” she says. “Lots of people came and said beautiful things and were very honoring of her. But I would say not having my mother to talk to and be there to give me that advice really is a hard thing to deal with and shouldn’t have been this way that she passed.”

Anyone with information about the hit-and-run, no matter how minor it may seem, is urged to contact Valemount RCMP at (250) 566-4466 or B.C. Crime Stoppers at 1 (800) 222-8477.

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