Tour Bus Collides With Tow Truck, Closing Coquihalla Highway

Photo Credit: VSA Highway Maintenance/Twitter

A collision between a bus and a tow truck has closed the Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt.

Just after 10 a.m. Saturday morning, a tour bus hit a stationary tow truck, sending several people to the hospital.

As a result, the northbound lane of Highway 5 was closed two kilometres south of exit 250, Larson Hill, at around 11 a.m., and the southbound lane was reduced to single lane traffic with major delays.

Earlier in the morning, a vehicle had collided with a deer and as a result needed to call for a tow truck. Shortly after the tow truck arrived, it was struck by the bus.

The tow truck operator and the tour guide sustained serious, but not life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle that collided with the deer was also injured. There were thirty people on the bus, and many of them suffered minor injuries.

Merritt RCMP and several ambulances responded to the scene and a helicopter was used to transport the seriously injured people to the hospital.

The approximate location of the accident. (Photo Credit: Google Maps)

Central Interior Traffic Services are currently conducting the investigation. The investigation is in early stages, but charges are pending.

RCMP expect closures and delays of the highway until 8 p.m. A detour is available on Highway 1.

RCMP would like to remind motorists of the “slow down, move over” legislation that requires vehicles to slow to 70 km/h and move over when passing emergency vehicles and tow trucks.