(Image Credit: Destiny Sam-Deneault/Facebook)

By Victor Kaisar

Winter Driving

UPDATE: Travel not recommended as RCMP respond to multiple crashes on Coquihalla near Merritt

Mar 8, 2026 | 2:16 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — (UPDATE 6:00 p.m.): Traffic is moving again on the Coquihalla Highway near Merritt but RCMP say travel is not recommended.

In an update released just before 6:00 p.m. Sunday (March 8), Merritt RCMP said they responded to a number of crashes on the highway about five kilometres south of Helmer Road.

“No injuries have been reported,” the statement said, as RCMP adfed the highway between Kamloops and Merritt was closed because of unsafe road conditions.

Police say a single lane is open in each direction, but they’re asking people to avoid travelling, if possible.

“If you must travel, motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes and drive to the conditions,” the RCMP said.

Week In Review

Week In Review: Week of March 2

Mar 07, 2026

TWO & OUT

PETERS: Celebration from Iranian ex-pats speaks louder than our skepticism of Trump

Mar 06, 2026

LOOPED IN

LOOPED IN WITH NIKKI OMEN: March 5, 2026

Mar 05, 2026

According to DriveBC, people can detour via Highway 97D and Highway 97C or Highway 5A which remains open to passenger vehicles. That latter highway also has a 70 per cent load restriction for commercial vehicles.

⛔️#BCHwy5 Closed in both directions north of #Merritt due to a vehicle incident. Detour via #BCHwy97C & #BCHwy97D.
ℹ️#BCHwy5A is also open to passenger vehicles, with a 70% load restriction for commercial vehicles.#Kamloops https://t.co/kaa5kMajta pic.twitter.com/D4ig7aEb4Y

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) March 8, 2026

DriveBC expects to have another update on the status of the highway at 6:30 p.m.. You can find that information here.

A commercial vehicle chain up is also in effect at Clapperton as DriveBC warned of winter driving conditions between Merritt and Kamloops. Drivers are being told watch for compact snow between Merritt and the Surrey Lake Summit and slushy and slippery sections from the summit to Kamloops.

Specific details about the crashes are not yet clear but several travellers took to social media to report that there were spun out trucks and cars in both directions on the Coquihalla. Others said semis were parked in the middle of the highway so drivers could put their chains on.

(Image Credit: Marcus Wally Scherer/Facebook)

(Image Credit: Aiden Arthur/Facebook)

The latest forecast from Environment Canada is calling about 5 cm of snow today on the Coquihalla between Kamloops and Merritt and about 10 cm between Merritt and Hope.

You can find the latest weather alerts from Environment Canada here and the latest on highway conditions from DriveBC here.