Toxic material clean-up underway on Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt following semi-truck fire

MERRITT, B.C. — Northbound travel on the Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt is halted Tuesday (April 21) morning as crews clean up toxic materials on the roadway. 

DriveBC first reported of a semi-truck on fire on Highway 5 near Comstock Road between Merritt and the Coquihalla Summit shortly before 10:00 p.m. Monday. It notes a detour is available via the Trans Canada Highway or Highway 3 to 5A.

The next update from DriveBC is due at 9:00 a.m. this morning.

Meantime, photos posted to social media show flames from the semi spreading into the nearby forest.