Coquihalla Highway reopens after fatal wrong

Coquihalla Highway reopens after fatal wrong-way crash closes stretch

Driver was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes, according to RCMP

One person is dead after a Monday morning car crash on the Coquihalla Highway, RCMP say.

The highway was closed northbound between Hope and Merritt, but it has since reopened as of 3 p.m. PT, according to DriveBC.

Merritt RCMP said they received a report just after 8 a.m. PT on Monday of a small car driving the wrong way on the Coquihalla near Comstock Road.

A second report minutes later indicated that the car had collided head on with a transport van, RCMP said in a statement.

According to Mounties, witnesses said "the car was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes at a high rate of speed prior to the collision."

The driver and sole occupant of the car was pronounced dead at the scene, RCMP said.

"The occupants of the transport van sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to hospital for treatment."

B.C. Emergency Health Services said one patient was taken to hospital by air ambulance in serious condition, and another two patients were transported by ground ambulance in serious but stable condition.

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Anyone with dash camera footage from the area around the time of the crash is asked to contact Merritt RCMP.

The southbound lanes of the Coquihalla were open while the northbound lanes were closed, though travellers were told to expect delays.

A detour was made available via Highway 1 and Highway 3, according to DriveBC.