Critical injury on Coq

UPDATE: 9:10 p.m.

Due to a police investigation, the northbound lane of Highway 5 between Merritt and Hope is expected to remain closed until at least 10 p.m.

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UPDATE: 8:05 p.m.

BC Emergency Health Services had paramedics responding to the scenes of one of two Coquihalla crashes Sunday evening. 

One patient was transported to hospital in critical condition by air ambulance from the incident south of Merritt. Four others were taken by ground ambulance, in stable condition. 

No major medical help was needed at the crash north of Merritt. 

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UPDATE: 7:45 p.m. 

Single-lane traffic is now open nine kilometres north of Merritt at the scene of a semi truck incident. 

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UPDATE: 6:30 p.m.

Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt is now closed in both directions at Exit 238, which is the Juliet exit, according to DriveBC.

A helicopter and multiple emergency vehicles are on the scene, according to Castanet readers.

No detour is available, though alternate routes include highways 1 and 8. 

An update is expected at 7:30 p.m.

Another accident, the two semis described by a Castanet reader earlier, has closed the highway nine kilometres north of Merritt. Detours for southbound traffic are available via Highway 97D to Highway 97C. 

An update will be provided at 7 p.m., as an estimated time of re-opening is being calculated.

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ORIGINAL: 5:50 p.m.

A Castanet reader has sent in photos of two semis which were involved in some sort of collision just minutes ago on Highway 5, just north of Merritt.

The reader did not witness a collision, but drove past the two large vehicles just as emergency crews were arriving at the scene from the opposite direction. 

DriveBC has no information on its website at this time.

Castanet will have more if road closures or traffic delays come into play.