Image: DriveBC / Highway 1 westbound near Burnaby remains closed due to a serious multi-vehicle incident that sent five people to hospital. ICARS has been deployed. The highway will be closed westbound for several hours, according to Corporal Dave Noon with ICARS.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Highway 1

Update: Highway 1 w/b reopens as BC Highway Patrol seeks dashcam footage from multi-vehicle crash that sent 5 to hospital

Nov 12, 2024 | 6:54 AM

UPDATE 2:05 P.M., TUESDAY: Highway 1 westbound through Burnaby has reopened Tuesday afternoon as the BC Highway Patrol says it seeking dash camera or witness evidence after this morning’s collision that shut down the westbound lanes of Highway 1.  The collision was reported just before 3 a.m. and involved at least four vehicles. Five people have received medical attention including three serious injuries requiring hospitalization.

This investigation is in its early stages, but it appears that at least two serious injuries happened after the initial collision when people were outside of their vehicles, says Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. Please remember that any pedestrians are extremely vulnerable around roadways, even and especially when people are trying to help after a collision.

Burnaby RCMP attended the scene until BC Highway Patrol took conduct later in the morning. The Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) has been called in to examine every detail. Initial observations are that weather was very poor at the time of the collision and standing pools of water were present. Speed has not been ruled out as a factor.

Witnesses or dash camera evidence will help solidify what happened, says Corporal McLaughlin. In the meantime, we want to avoid more of these serious collisions. It’s extra-important at this time of year that we all slow down to well below the speed limit when conditions are this poor.

If you have dash camera evidence or saw what happened, please call BC Highway Patrol at 604-526-9744 and quote file 2024-3163.

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UPDATE 8:35 A.M., TUESDAY: The Canadian Press is reporting that five people have been transported to hospital following a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 1 near Burnaby.

Mounties in Burnaby say westbound lanes of Highway 1 near the city have been shut after a multi-vehicle crash.

They say just before 3 a.m., officers responded to reports of a five-car collision on the highway, just east of the Kensington Avenue off-ramp, CP reported.

Police say five people were transported to hospital, three with minor injuries and two in serious condition, and the road was immediately closed.

Police say Highway 1 could be shut down for the rest of the morning and potentially into the afternoon, CP reported.

RCMP are advising commuters to take an alternate route and are asking people to work from home or delay the start of their work day if they’re able.

They say the BC Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation, but impairment is not believed to be a contributing factor.

Original story from earlier this morning:

BURNABY — DriveBC says westbound Highway 1 is closed between Gaglardi Way (exit 37) and Kensington Avenue (exit 33) due to a serious vehicle incident.

According to a post on X/Twitter at 5:03 a.m., DriveBC says RCMP have told them an investigation is taking place, and this stretch of Highway 1 will not be open in time for rush-hour traffic. Motorists should expect major delays.

Corporal Dave Noon of Lower Mainland ICARS (Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service) said at 6:01 a.m. Tuesday (Nov. 12) that ICARS has been deployed for a serious multi-vehicle collision. Westbound lanes are closed between Gaglardi and Kensington.

There is no anticipated time of reopening Highway 1. Motorists should expect significant delays “for several hours,” Cpl. Noon said, and are asked to avoid the area.

ICARS, located at the B.C. RCMP headquarters in Surrey, is tasked with the forensic reconstruction of vehicle crashes that result in serious injury or death from Pemberton to Boston Bar.