8 injured in Coq crashes

Photo: Contributed

UPDATE: 3:50 p.m.

Eight people have been taken to hospital after two crashes on the Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Kamloops.

British Columbia Emergency Health Services says the first call came just before noon on Monday, and it received about a dozen 911 calls.

It says two separate crashes involving at least four vehicles occurred about 90 metres apart from one another near the Lac Le Jeune exit.

The agency says the collisions happened during a sudden hail storm.

It says one person was taken to hospital in serious condition via air ambulance, while seven others were taken to hospital in stable condition by ground ambulance.

Drive B.C. says the highway has been cleared, but to expect major delays due to congestion.

– The Canadian Press

UPDATE: 2:15 p.m.

DriveBC reports the Coquihalla Highway reopened about 1:45 p.m. at the scene of multiple crashes.

Expect major delays due to congestion.

UPDATE: 1:25 p.m.

DriveBC reports the multi-vehicle incident on the Coquihalla is one kilometre north of the Highway 97D junction.

Expect major delays. 

UPDATE: 1:15 p.m.

Photos starting to come in from the scene of multiple crashes on the Coquihalla show fresh hail on the side of the road and wet conditions.

In one of the accidents, a Subaru can be seen after rolling over on its roof down an embankment.

Emergency responders are on scene and removed at least one person on a backboard.

DriveBC now reports delays of 60-90 minutes north of Merritt.

ORIGINAL: 12:50 p.m.

Reports of multiple accidents have closed the Coquihalla Highway near Logan Lake, south of Kamloops.

The highway is closed in both directions, DriveBC reports. Emergency crews are en route.

Multiple incidents are reported near Meadow Creek Road, also known as Highway 97D, the turnoff for Logan Lake from Kamloops.

Hail was reported in the area.

DriveBC reports a multi-vehicle incident between Merritt and Highway 1 on the route. Expect major delays.