Fatal crash on Coquihalla

UPDATE: 12:45 p.m.

A driver has died in a crash this morning south of Merritt.

At about 10:20 a.m. Monday, emergency personnel were called to a two-vehicle collision on the Coquihalla Highway, four kilometres south of Merritt.

“A small car with one occupant, travelling southbound up the hill out of Merritt on the Coquihalla Highway, ran into the rear of a broken down commercial vehicle that was pulling a flat deck trailer,” explains Sgt. Mike Pears.

“The commercial vehicle was pulled off the travel portion of roadway on the right shoulder with emergency triangles placed to the rear. As it is early in the investigation, RCMP cannot confirm why this crash occurred.”

Pears says the driver of the small car was deceased at the scene of the collision. 

“Weather and road conditions were good at the time of the collision,” says Pears.

“The occupant of the commercial vehicle was not injured.”

A RCMP traffic re-constructionist and the BC Coroners Service continue to investigate the cause of this collision.

“The highway is open in both directions. However, there is a lane closure for southbound traffic,” adds Pears.

RCMP are not providing any further information on the crash at this time.  

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ORIGINAL: 11:30 a.m. 

Emergency crews are on the scene of what is believed to be a fatal crash south of Merritt.

According to a witness on the scene, a vehicle smashed into the back of a large flat-bed truck.

DriveBC is not reporting any delays in the area at this time.

Castanet will have more information on the accident as it becomes available.