Image credit: CFJC Today

By Marty Hastings

COQUIHALLA ACCIDENT

UPDATED: One person dead after accident on Coquihalla, according to RCMP

Oct 6, 2024 | 12:09 PM

UPDATE: One person has died in a single-vehicle crash that took place on Saturday (Oct. 5) afternoon on Highway 5 north of Juliet Road, according to a Merritt RCMP media release. 

A four-door sedan travelling northbound went off the road at a high rate of speed and rolled before coming to a stop, according to the release, which notes officers were at the scene by 3:50 p.m. on Saturday.

The vehicle was carrying five people, four of whom were taken to hospital and one of whom was declared deceased despite life-saving efforts by first responders, notes the release.

Merritt RCMP are investigating the cause of the incident and have engaged the services of the Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (CARS) to assist.  

Officers believe speed was a factor in the collision and have ruled out impairment as a factor, notes the release.

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“We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of those involved in this serious incident,” Cpl. Brett Urano, RCMP spokesperson, said in the release. “We would like to thank all those who provided aid to those involved with the incident, including BC Emergency Health Services and Merritt Fire.” 

Anyone with information on the accident can call the Merritt RCMP detachment at 250-378-4262 and quote file 2024-5285. 

EARLIER: BC Emergency Health Services received a call at 1:48 p.m. on Saturday (Oct. 5) about a motor-vehicle incident south of Larson Hill in the northbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway, according to Cheryl Rossi, communications officer for the Provincial Health Services Authority.

Eight ground ambulances and one air ambulance were dispatched, according to Rossi, who noted paramedics treated three patients at the scene and transported two patients to hospital.

Drive BC posted on Twitter at 1:08 a.m. on Sunday (Oct. 6) to note the accident had been cleared and the highway was reopened to northbound traffic.