Coquihalla crash claims one life

May 14, 2017 | 12:45 AM

KAMLOOPS  — One person is dead, and two are in hospital following a crash on the Coquihalla highway near Inks Lake just after 7pm on Saturday, May 13th. 

The single vehicle crash happened when a northbound vehicle lost control and rolled over into the centre median. 

A 61-year-old passenger in the front seat of the vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The driver, and a passenger in the rear of the vehicle received non-life threatening injuries, and were transported to hospital in Kamloops.

RCMP Sgt. Mike Pears explained, “The highway experienced numerous storm cells passing through the area throughout the day. These storm cells had produced snow, hail and rain. At the time of this crash, a localized storm system had just passed and the road at this location was wet, slushy and hail covered. A pickup truck had lost control and was located in the centre median prior to the fatal crash occurring. There were no injuries to the occupants of the pickup truck.”

Investigators continue to investigate this fatal crash, to determine a cause. 

Sgt. Pears added, “Motorists are advised that road conditions in higher elevations can change drastically in a matter of a few kilometres or metres. Drivers are responsible for the safe operation of their vehicles and must be prepared for the unexpected. Please drive to the conditions that are presented and slow down when driving into and through storms. Roads can be bare and wet one minute and a minute later you can be driving through slush/hail or pools of water, be prepared.”