UPDATE: 12 p.m.
RCMP say the incident that closed the Coquihalla Highway for several hours Thursday morning, was due to a fatal collision involving a pedestrian.
According to police, emergency crews responded to a report of a pedestrian struck by a vehicle on Highway 5 near Kane Valley Road, in Merritt.
Despite lifesaving efforts, the male pedestrian was pronounced deceased at the scene.
鈥淭he vehicle involved was unable to avoid the collision and remained on scene. No criminality is suspected,鈥� said Cpl. James Grandy, with the Southeast District RCMP.
Highway 5 has now reopened.
The RCMP, along with the BC Coroners Service, are continuing their investigation.
If anyone has any information, they鈥檙e asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.
UPDATE 9:15 a.m.
Emergency crews remain on scene as they are investigating a Thursday morning crash on the Coquihalla Highway, BC Highway Patrol officer Cpl. James Grandy has confirmed.
The northbound lanes will remain closed "until further notice," said Grandy.
Original
An assessment is currently underway on the Coquihalla Highway northbound following an early morning crash that has closed the stretch of road from Hope to Merritt.
The incident happened just after 5 a.m. between Larson Hill (exit 250) and Comstock Road (exit 276). It's unknown at this time if anyone was injured and how many vehicles were involved in the crash.
Alternate routes are available using Highway 1 and Highway 3. DriveBC has scheduled their next update for 9 a.m. but there is no estimated time for the northbound lanes to reopen. The Coquihalla's southbound lanes are remain open.
钾旓笍 / - The Highway is CLOSED northbound from to due to a vehicle incident. Assessment in progress. No estimated time of reopening. Alternate routes via and .
鈥� DriveBC (@DriveBC)
鈩癸笍For more info:
Black Press Media will follow this situation as it unfolds.
