Poor weather and poor road conditions are believed to be the cause of a fatal crash east of Merritt on Saturday night.

RCMP Southeast District spokesperson, Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey says a white Dodge Ram veered off the Okanagan Connector, hit a large sign and rolled about 30 feet down an embankment before landing on its roof.

The accident happened at 7:20 p.m. on Saturday night in the eastbound lanes near Sunset Main Road, about 12 kilometres west of the Pennask Summit.

O’Donaghey says there were four people in the truck when the crash happened, and the man killed was one of the passengers. The other three people were taken to hospital with undisclosed injuries, and two of those people had to be extricated.

“At this time, investigators believe poor weather and road conditions contributed to the crash. Police are also investigating whether or not speed relative to those conditions and inadequate tires also played a role in this fatal crash,” O’Donaghey says.

The highway was closed heading eastbound for more than five hours after the accident.

O’Donaghey says any witnesses of the accident are being asked to call Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.