A 24-year-old Kenyan immigrant, Benina Jepkoech, is feared dead after a vehicle accident in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada, where her car reportedly plunged into the North Thompson River.
According to reports, the incident occurred on Sunday evening near Schubert Drive and Birch Avenue after she lost control of the vehicle, which was then swept into the fast-flowing river.
Close associates indicated that Benina Jepkoech had limited driving experience in Canada and may have panicked shortly before the accident occurred.
Three members of the public managed to rescue her 21-year-old passenger from the vehicle, but Benina was reportedly carried away by strong river currents.
Search and rescue operations have been temporarily suspended due to dangerous conditions caused by spring snowmelt and reduced underwater visibility.
Friend Narrates Events Before Benina Jepkoech’s Death
A close friend, Jacinta Mugo, has described the final moments leading up to the accident involving Kenyan immigrant Benina Jepkoech, who is presumed to have drowned after her vehicle plunged into the North Thompson River in Kamloops, British Columbia.
Mugo said Jepkoech had visited her home near Schubert Drive just minutes before the incident. She noted that Jepkoech had limited driving experience in Canada and had only recently been considering learning to drive more actively.
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“She wanted to eventually buy a car for herself, and she had not been driving; she’d never driven here in Canada before,” Mugo said.
According to Mugo, Jepkoech was accompanied by a 21-year-old passenger who had initially gone to borrow a blow dryer, before the two later left her residence. She said Jepkoech later suggested that she drive the vehicle during their departure.
Mugo described Jepkoech as “extremely polite,” humble, and friendly, adding that she was well-liked by those who knew her and was working hard to build a new life in Canada.
She further suggested that confusion and panic may have played a role after Jepkoech entered Schubert Drive, noting differences in driving orientation between Kenya and Canada.
“I think due to the panic … she accidentally turned all the wheels to the right facing the river,” she said.
“And then instead of probably pressing on the brakes, she pressed on the gas, and that’s when the car flew and plunged into the river.”
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Mugo said she believes the situation escalated quickly, leading to the vehicle veering off the road and into the river. The community continues to pray and await further updates.
Search for Missing Kenyan Woman, Benina Jepkoech Continues
Benina Jepkoech worked full-time at a downtown Kamloops hotel and held a second job at the Afrofusion restaurant, according to her close friend Jacinta Mugo.
Mugo said she first met Jepkoech in 2022 during Red Cross volunteer work in Kenya. The two later reconnected in Canada after Mugo picked her up from the airport last year, and they remained close friends.
She added that Jepkoech’s family has been informed of the incident, while the community continues to await confirmation on her condition.
Kamloops Search and Rescue confirmed that operations remain suspended due to swollen river conditions caused by spring snowmelt, with no timeline yet set for resumption.
