Image: DriveBC / Highway 5 near Box Canyon chain up, looking north, at an elevation of 849 metres. DriveBC reported at 9:53 p.m. Wednesday night that the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) is closed northbound between Hope and Merritt due to a vehicle incident near the Great Bear Snow Shed.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Coquihalla Highway

Update: RCMP says a 69-year-old Hope man has died after a two-vehicle crash on the Coquihalla Highway

Nov 20, 2024 | 10:27 PM

UPDATE 8:45 A.M. FRIDAY: Hope RCMP spokesperson S/Sgt. Michael Sargent says its detachment is investigating a motor vehicle collision that claimed one life. According to a statement, Hope RCMP responded to a collision Wednesday evening, Nov. 20 at 9:20 p.m., between two passenger vehicles in the 3200 block of Highway 5 in the northbound lanes. The area in question is near the Great Bear Snow Shed.

“Sadly, one of the drivers, a 69-year-old man from Hope, succumbed to injuries he sustained and was pronounced deceased at the scene,” S/Sgt. Sargent said. “Our condolences go out to the family and friends of this individual.”

The northbound lanes of Highway 5 were closed for several hours as front line police officers and personnel from the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) collected information from the scene.

Police say the incident is still under investigation, though alcohol is not suspected as a factor at this point.

Police are asking anyone with information about the fatal crash to contact them at 604-869-7750. way Patrol has not issued a news release as of Thursday afternoon at 3:10 p.m.

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Original story below from 10:27 p.m. Wednesday night: 

COQUIHALLA HIGHWAY — DriveBC says the Coquihalla Highway (Highway 5) is closed northbound between Hope and Merritt due to a vehicle incident near the Great Bear Snow Shed.

In a social media post at 9:53 p.m., DriveBC says motorists and truckers should expect delays.

Kamscan reported on X/Twitter at 9:42 p.m. that BC Ambulance Service crews from Hope were dispatched to the Box Canyon area of the Coquihalla after two pickups were involved.

An air ambulance has reportedly launched from Vancouver.

DriveBC says northbound Highway 5 is closed. An assessment is in progress. A detour via Highway 1 or Highway 3 is available.

The next update from DriveBC is 11:30 p.m.