Image credit: Facebook/Ash Lynn Wycherley
By Aaron Schulze
Coquihalla Closure

Semi-truck fire closes southbound lanes of Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt overnight

Jul 22, 2024 | 4:33 AM

UPDATE (10:00 a.m.): BC Highway Patrol told CFJC Today the semi-truck caught fire after making contact with a median. No serious injuries were reported.

UPDATE (8:00 a.m.): BC Emergency Health Services told CFJC Today it received the call at around 6:40 p.m. Sunday.

Two ground ambulances were dispatched but no patients were sent to hospital.

EARLIER: MERRITT, B.C. — A semi-truck on fire closed the southbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway from Merritt to Hope overnight Sunday (July 21).

DriveBC first reported of the vehicle incident on Highway 5 at Coldwater Road south of Merritt at around 5:50 p.m. Sunday.

Question of the Week
Have you put winter tires on your vehicle already?
Oct 13, 2026
Week in Review
Week in Review: Week of October 5, 2026
Oct 10, 2026
Two & Out
PETERS: Quick switch to pocketbook issues shows how flimsy Eby's election justification was
Oct 9, 2026

Videos posted to social media show a semi-truck on fire and the charred remains of the vehicle.

Image credit: Facebook/Mike Reoch
Image credit: Facebook/Avneet Kaur
Image credit: Facebook/Avneet Kaur

The southbound lanes of Highway 5 south of Merritt reopened at 4:30 a.m. Monday, but DriveBC says drivers can expect delays due to congestion.

CFJC Today has contracted BC Emergency Health Services and BC Highway Patrol for further information

by Aaron Schulze

Our Community

Question of the Week
Have you put winter tires on your vehicle already?
Oct 13, 2026
Week in Review
Week in Review: Week of October 5, 2026
Oct 10, 2026
Two & Out
PETERS: Quick switch to pocketbook issues shows how flimsy Eby's election justification was
Oct 9, 2026
Kamloops Votes 2026
CFJC Kamloops Mayoral Candidates Debate 2026
Oct 8, 2026
B.C. Votes 2026
CANDIDATE LIST: Kamloops and area candidates for the 2026 BC election
Oct 7, 2026