One person has died and more than five others were taken to hospital after a multi-vehicle crash on the Coquihalla Highway Thursday.
The crash happened before 5:30 p.m. on Larson Hill between Hope and Merritt, near Coldwater Road, south of Exit 290. Drivers on the route reported heavy rain at the time of the accident.
The fatality has been confirmed by the BC Coroners Service.
BC Emergency Health Services confirmed that six people were taken to hospital, including two in critical condition and four believed to be stable.
The highway was closed for several hours, until at least 1 a.m., as emergency crews cleared the accident.
This marked the first major crash of Victoria Day long weekend. Through the weekend, police are expected to conduct a province-wide enforcement blitz, specifically targeting speeders.
In 2017, 540 people were injured in 2,300 crashes in B.C. over the May long weekend.
As May long weekend is here and many of you begin travels on this Friday, a friendly reminder that May is high-risk driving month. #roadsafety #SafeDriving https://t.co/ZreRHEI4X5 pic.twitter.com/l09v9Tsyc7
— BCRCMP (@BCRCMP) May 17, 2019