Missing B.C. couple found dead after ATV overturn, police say

The search for a missing British Columbia man and woman has tragically ended in the Okanagan backcountry.

RCMP said Hamakawas, Glen (67) and Eva (56) were found dead Sunday morning after an apparent ATV overturn.
We are very saddened by this loss and offer our sincere condolences to their friends and family, said Master Sgt. Bob Vatamaniuck.

The RCMP would like to thank the search and rescue teams for their hard and selfless work in locating the couple, as well as the public who offered so much support.

The couple were last seen Friday morning, October 1, as they left their campsite near Summerland on their black Polaris side-by-side ATV.

They had not heard from since and were reported missing on Saturday morning, triggering a massive search effort on the ground and in the air.

Randy Brown, the search manager for Penticton Search and Rescue, said additional volunteer search and rescue teams were deployed to the scene on Sunday.

Teams from Princeton, Oliver, Osoyoos and Kelowna attended. Last night the managers got together and planned again today, launched a request for teams in the area all the way to Merritt, and the command center is back in place this morning at the Crump recreation site. and the research has already started, ”said Brown. told Global News.

Brown said the area, located just off the Princeton-Summerland Highway, is popular with campers, hunters and people using their recreational vehicles, but the topography is vast, rugged and steep.

This is a significant area with many trails and we are looking at an area with no predetermined location they are heading towards. , the terrain is steep, so we have a lot of work to do.

Brown said the couple, who live in Bridal Falls, have not issued a distress signal, no GPS tracking devices are available and there is no indication in which direction the Hamakawas traveled.

There are a lot of hunters in the area, so we hope someone has a clue or seen them, then they can contact the police and we can narrow down the search area, ”he said.

Brown said the urgency of the situation was heightened given the colder temperatures.

When temperatures drop, it increases the priority. Yesterday we hit hard. Everyone recognizes the importance of finding people quickly so that the teams are there, ”he said.

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Glen Hamakawa is described as 5’9 ”, 190 lbs, wearing mostly black clothing with blue jeans.

Eva is 5ft 2in and 205lb, also wearing black riding gear with blue jeans.

Both wore black helmets.

“The RCMP are very concerned for the Hamakawa as the weather has been inclement and given the age of the couple, the police are concerned that they are not prepared for colder temperatures; we hope they will be found soon, ”said Vatamaniuck.

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Brown said the couple were seasoned campers and mountain bikers but were new to the Crump Recreation Site area and may not be familiar with the terrain.

They have spent many years in the hinterland with their side by side, however, this is a new area for them to explore, ”he said.