Image: Drive B.C. / Abbotsford Police wrote on Twitter Friday afternoon that Highway 1 is closed both directions between Whatcom and Sumas due to a serious car accident.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Highway 1 traffic clogged

Abbotsford police, fire respond to serious car accident; Hwy. 1 traffic closed both directions, police say

Feb 24, 2023 | 3:08 PM

**UPDATE at 9:55 p.m. Friday night: Abbotsford Police Department announced Friday night that a 48-year-old driver has died in the single-vehicle collision. Abbotsford first responders responded to the scene, and the collision blocked both directions of Highway 1 between Whatcom Road (exit 95) and Sumas Way (exit 92) Friday afternoon.**

Original story below: 

ABBOTSFORD — Highway 1 between Whatcom Road (exit 95) and Sumas (exit 92) is currently closed in both directions as Abbotsford emergency services are responding to a serious collision near Whatcom and South Parallel, Abbotsford Police wrote on Twitter at 2:51 p.m. Friday.

Abbotsford Police are asking motorists to avoid the area to allow emergency vehicle access and to avoid getting stuck in traffic.

Highway traffic cameras show heavy traffic backed up on Highway 1 heading eastbound near the Sumas on-ramp onto eastbound.

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An air helicopter landed shortly after 3:15 p.m. and traffic continued to be blocked in both directions. Social media users reported it was a single-vehicle collision in which the car suffered significant damage.

Hwy. 1 eastbound remained closed between Whatcom Road and No. 3 Road until at least 3:45 p.m.

By 3:45 p.m., the air ambulance had departed and some emergency vehicles began to clear from the scene.