Charges possible in crash that closed Coquihalla Highway for 12 hours

Police are not ruling out criminal charges following a crash on the Coquihalla Highway yesterday that sent one person to hospital with serious injuries.

The crash took place on Highway 5 south of Great Bear Snowshed, at roughly 2 p.m. July 10.

"Initial investigation has determined that due to heavy traffic and construction in the area, a southbound commercial semi-truck pulling a loaded trailer collided with three passenger vehicles," a BC Highway Patrol media release says.

RCMP say one person was transported to hospital by air ambulance with serious injuries, while another sustained only a minor injury. The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured.

The highway was closed in both directions following the crash. DriveBC footage shows lengthy line-ups of traffic following the crash.

Police say the investigation is in its very early stages but potential charges under the Criminal Code or BC Motor Vehicle Act have not been ruled out.

Police are urging anyone who may have information, witnessed the collision, or have dash cam video are asked to contact BC Highway Patrol in Chilliwack at 604-702-4039.


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Ben Bulmer

After a decade of globetrotting, U.K. native Ben Bulmer ended up settling in Canada in 2009. Calling Vancouver home he headed back to school and studied journalism at Langara College. From there he headed to Ottawa before winding up in a small anglophone village in Quebec, where he worked for three years at a feisty English language newspaper. Ben is always on the hunt for a good story, an interesting tale and to dig up what really matters to the community.