Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Kneeshaw

TRUCK CRASH

All redos of medical tests impacted by Westwold truck crash complete; original patient samples returned to IH

Oct 15, 2025 | 5:10 PM

KAMLOOPS — Interior Health says it’s caught up to the retesting that had to be undertaken after a semi-truck delivering hundreds of patient samples crashed into a barn in Westwold.

The incident stems from a crash back in July, involving the transport courier Interior Health was using to get medical samples delivered to labs. The semi was driving on Highway 97 through Westwold when it somehow went off the road and wound up crashing through a historic barn. Three months later, the truck is still sitting in the barn, which is now propped up by scaffolding.

IH says none of the 384 medical samples that were on the transport truck were usable. Impacted patients were contacted and those tests have now all been redone. Joanne Isber, the program director of pathology and laboratory services for IH, says the original samples were able to be removed from the truck for the health authority to dispose of, if need be.

“I think we’re all curious as to how long the truck will be there. But you know, they had to ensure that it was stable enough to enter the truck before the samples were removed,” explains Isber. “While the courier accident really was an unfortunate event, the timely and coordinated response from the Interior Health teams helped limit potential impacts. The laboratory team responded swiftly, professionally to this event. Physicians were promptly consulted, patients were recalled for any repeat sample collection and all regulatory notifications were completed. This was all done well before the samples were ever returned.”

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As for who is paying for the cost to redo hundreds of tests and transport them again, Isber says those details haven’t been finalized at this point.

“The truck is still there in the barn. The discussions are still ongoing so that will be all ironed out in collaboration with PHSA and the courier,” she adds.