Coquihalla Freeway Fatal Crash Was Rear Ended Between Commercial Trucks Rcmp Say

A statement Tuesday said investigators found a commercial truck crashed into the back of another truck that was moving slower in the southbound lanes near Merritt, BC, just after 6 a.m. The impact resulted in a severe fire, which “consumed” the second truck and spread to the grass median, police said. They said the driver of the slower truck, an Edmonton man, was not injured. The driver in the second semi was “trapped” and killed as a result of the collision, police said. A passenger in the truck was able to get out of the cab, but was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both men in the second truck were from Winnipeg, police said

RCMP are looking for a witness who stopped at the scene

The Coquihalla Freeway was completely closed in both directions for about two hours as a result of the fire. The northbound lanes of the freeway partially reopened later in the morning, but the southbound lanes remained closed into the afternoon as police investigated and cleared the wreckage. Crews from the Merritt Fire Department and the BC Wildfire Service were on the scene to stop the flames from spreading. The RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol unit is leading the investigation, assisted by commercial vehicle safety and enforcement officers, collision reconstruction technicians and the BC Coroner’s Service. “The cause of the crash remains under investigation and nothing has been ruled out,” the RCMP statement said. “Investigators would like to speak with the individual who stopped at the scene, identified himself as a witness, but did not provide his name or contact information,” RCMP said. Anyone with information about this crash, including any dash cam video, is asked to contact the BC Highway Patrol Merritt at 250-378-4262 and reference file 2022-4023. DriveBC reported around 4:45 p.m. on Monday that all lanes of the one northbound lane had reopened.

title: “Coquihalla Freeway Fatal Crash Was Rear Ended Between Commercial Trucks Rcmp Say Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Harlan Worsley”

A statement Tuesday said investigators found a commercial truck crashed into the back of another truck that was moving slower in the southbound lanes near Merritt, BC, just after 6 a.m. The impact resulted in a severe fire, which “consumed” the second truck and spread to the grass median, police said. They said the driver of the slower truck, an Edmonton man, was not injured. The driver in the second semi was “trapped” and killed as a result of the collision, police said. A passenger in the truck was able to get out of the cab, but was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both men in the second truck were from Winnipeg, police said

RCMP are looking for a witness who stopped at the scene

The Coquihalla Freeway was completely closed in both directions for about two hours as a result of the fire. The northbound lanes of the freeway partially reopened later in the morning, but the southbound lanes remained closed into the afternoon as police investigated and cleared the wreckage. Crews from the Merritt Fire Department and the BC Wildfire Service were on the scene to stop the flames from spreading. The RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol unit is leading the investigation, assisted by commercial vehicle safety and enforcement officers, collision reconstruction technicians and the BC Coroner’s Service. “The cause of the crash remains under investigation and nothing has been ruled out,” the RCMP statement said. “Investigators would like to speak with the individual who stopped at the scene, identified himself as a witness, but did not provide his name or contact information,” RCMP said. Anyone with information about this crash, including any dash cam video, is asked to contact the BC Highway Patrol Merritt at 250-378-4262 and reference file 2022-4023. DriveBC reported around 4:45 p.m. on Monday that all lanes of the one northbound lane had reopened.

title: “Coquihalla Freeway Fatal Crash Was Rear Ended Between Commercial Trucks Rcmp Say Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-03” author: “Cliff Mason”

A statement Tuesday said investigators found a commercial truck crashed into the back of another truck that was moving slower in the southbound lanes near Merritt, BC, just after 6 a.m. The impact resulted in a severe fire, which “consumed” the second truck and spread to the grass median, police said. They said the driver of the slower truck, an Edmonton man, was not injured. The driver in the second semi was “trapped” and killed as a result of the collision, police said. A passenger in the truck was able to get out of the cab, but was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both men in the second truck were from Winnipeg, police said

RCMP are looking for a witness who stopped at the scene

The Coquihalla Freeway was completely closed in both directions for about two hours as a result of the fire. The northbound lanes of the freeway partially reopened later in the morning, but the southbound lanes remained closed into the afternoon as police investigated and cleared the wreckage. Crews from the Merritt Fire Department and the BC Wildfire Service were on the scene to stop the flames from spreading. The RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol unit is leading the investigation, assisted by commercial vehicle safety and enforcement officers, collision reconstruction technicians and the BC Coroner’s Service. “The cause of the crash remains under investigation and nothing has been ruled out,” the RCMP statement said. “Investigators would like to speak with the individual who stopped at the scene, identified himself as a witness, but did not provide his name or contact information,” RCMP said. Anyone with information about this crash, including any dash cam video, is asked to contact the BC Highway Patrol Merritt at 250-378-4262 and reference file 2022-4023. DriveBC reported around 4:45 p.m. on Monday that all lanes of the one northbound lane had reopened.

title: “Coquihalla Freeway Fatal Crash Was Rear Ended Between Commercial Trucks Rcmp Say Klmat” ShowToc: true date: “2022-10-29” author: “Ruth Peitz”

A statement Tuesday said investigators found a commercial truck crashed into the back of another truck that was moving slower in the southbound lanes near Merritt, BC, just after 6 a.m. The impact resulted in a severe fire, which “consumed” the second truck and spread to the grass median, police said. They said the driver of the slower truck, an Edmonton man, was not injured. The driver in the second semi was “trapped” and killed as a result of the collision, police said. A passenger in the truck was able to get out of the cab, but was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. Both men in the second truck were from Winnipeg, police said

RCMP are looking for a witness who stopped at the scene

The Coquihalla Freeway was completely closed in both directions for about two hours as a result of the fire. The northbound lanes of the freeway partially reopened later in the morning, but the southbound lanes remained closed into the afternoon as police investigated and cleared the wreckage. Crews from the Merritt Fire Department and the BC Wildfire Service were on the scene to stop the flames from spreading. The RCMP’s BC Highway Patrol unit is leading the investigation, assisted by commercial vehicle safety and enforcement officers, collision reconstruction technicians and the BC Coroner’s Service. “The cause of the crash remains under investigation and nothing has been ruled out,” the RCMP statement said. “Investigators would like to speak with the individual who stopped at the scene, identified himself as a witness, but did not provide his name or contact information,” RCMP said. Anyone with information about this crash, including any dash cam video, is asked to contact the BC Highway Patrol Merritt at 250-378-4262 and reference file 2022-4023. DriveBC reported around 4:45 p.m. on Monday that all lanes of the one northbound lane had reopened.