Coquihalla Highway reopens after fatal wrong-way crash
Coquihalla Highway crash closes route after fatal wrong-way collision near Merritt See what RCMP say happened and how the highway reopened after delays
The Coquihalla Highway reopened Monday afternoon after a wrongway crash near Merritt, British Columbia, left one person dead and several others injured.
RCMP said they received reports shortly after 8 a.m. PT of a small car travelling southbound in the northbound lanes near Comstock Road. Minutes later, investigators said the car collided headon with a transport van between Hope and Merritt.
Police said the driver and only occupant of the car died at the scene. The people in the transport van were taken to hospital with nonlifethreatening injuries, and B.C. Emergency Health Services said one patient was airlifted in serious condition while two others were transported by ground ambulance. DriveBC said the northbound closure ended at about 3 p.m. PT, with a detour available during the shutdown.