Three people are dead and a number of others had to be rescued after a boat crashed into a unknown object on the Squamish River Thursday amid stormy conditions.
The RCMP confirmed the third fatality on Friday after finding the body of a person who had been listed as missing. The identities of the deceased have not been confirmed.
Insp. Robert Dykstra with the Sea-to-Sky RCMP said there were approximately eight people on the boat when the accident happened.
“I don’t have any details specifically about exactly the type of boat … but I understand that it ran into something and that’s what caused it to stop and people to be thrown into the water,” he said.
“A number of people did get off the boat and they were rescued. They’re on the on the other side [of the Squamish River] where we don’t have direct access to by road right now, but they’re safe.”
Squamish Valley Road, which gives access to the remote area by vehicle, is closed at the Pilchuck Bailey Bridge due to flooding.
The Squamish Valley Road was washed out around two or three kilometres north of the Cheekye area. (Submitted by Glen McEachran)
Dykstra said investigators are trying to understand who owns the boat and why it was on the river in Thursday’s harsh conditions.
“It could be any number of reasons. It’s tragic. It’s dangerous water. The flooding was quite substantial. The rainfall over the last 48 hours has been significant,” he said.
Squamish RCMP responded to the accident at 1:52 p.m. PT Thursday. Cpl. Ashley MacKay said conditions that day were extremely difficult and unsafe for emergency responders.
“The weather and river conditions have played a significant role in the response efforts,” she said. “Weather patterns, water levels, and river conditions can change rapidly, and those factors are being continuously assessed as search and recovery efforts continue.”
The Squamish Valley Road is seen closed due to flooding on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2026. (Troy Charles/CBC)
Police are asking the public to stay off the water due to dangerous flow rates and debris throughout the river systems.
Shelter-in-place advisory issued for Pemberton Valley, parts of Squamish as flooding closes roads
More stormy weather forecast for B.C. with warnings for flooding, heavy rain, fog
RCMP Air Services, the Lower Mainland District Integrated Emergency Response Team, the Lower Mainland District Underwater Recovery Team, and West Coast Marine Services were involved in the search.
“We send the condolences out to those who are affected. We’re working hard to figure out exactly what happened in this investigation,” said RCMP Cpl. Brett Urano.
