Valemount RCMP are continuing to investigate after a 46-year-old Merritt woman died in a hit and run on Wednesday.

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Shortly after midnight, Mounties responded to an automated cell phone crash notification crash activation on Highway 16 near Lucerne Lake.

When police arrived, they found a Nissan Frontier running, unlocked and a dog inside; however, no other vehicles were in the area.

Mounties say upon a closer examination, a woman was spotted dead in the ditch, down an embankment near the vehicle, with evidence suggesting the woman may have been outside her car when she was struck by the vehicle.

A headlight assembly, belonging to a 2016 to 2018 grey Jeep Cherokee was spotted at the scene.

Valemount Mounties are encouraging the driver to contact police.

Anyone with dash cam footage or who may have been in the area between 11:00 pm on July 4 and shortly after midnight on July 5 that may have seen the woman and/or her vehicle alongside the highway is asked to contact police.