Image Credit: Twitter / @katebirl

By James Peters

Coquihalla Highway

‘Skating rink’ conditions close Coquihalla near Kamloops- update

Oct 8, 2019 | 8:43 PM

KAMLOOPS — UPDATE – The highway was reopened overnight. This morning, conditions seem to be better, with Drive B.C. reporting some slippery sections between Merritt and Hope but no other major problems as of 4:30 AM Wednesday morning. Check the Drive B.C. web site for current conditions as the day progresses.

EARLIER -Emergency crews are asking motorists to avoid the Coquihalla Highway if at all possible Tuesday night.

Icy conditions led to a series of minor collisions and jack-knifed commercial vehicles south of Kamloops early in the evening. As of 8:30 p.m., the road was closed in both directions.

Lt. Erin Holloway of Kamloops Fire Rescue says her crew even had to stop and apply chains to the KFR rescue truck as it attended to the various incidents.

In one instance, the southbound lanes were closed when a vehicle rear-ended a commercial truck about one kilometre south of the Inks Lake brake check.

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Holloway says B.C. Ambulance Service reported minor injuries in that crash.

But Holloway notes the KFR rescue truck responded to three other jack-knifed semis in the same area.

She says the road was a “skating rink” and, once it re-opens, advises drivers to be extremely cautious if they must travel tonight.