BC Highway Patrol says semi erupted in flames after rear-end collision on Coquihalla

Photo: Twitter/@lolligirl

Police say a clearer picture is emerging in the aftermath of a fatal collision on the Coquihalla Highway Monday.

BC Highway Patrol Cpl. Mike Halskov says RCMP and paramedics responded to the scene south of Merritt near Comstock about 6 a.m.

Police say a slow-moving transport truck was rear-ended by a second semi, which caught fire and also ignited the the grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes.

The driver of the slower truck, a man from Edmonton, was uninjured in the collision.

The driver of the second transport truck, a man from Winnipeg, was trapped in the crash and died. His co-driver, also from Winnipeg, extricated himself from the cab but suffered serious, life-threatening injuries.

Highway 5 was closed in both directions for about two hours due to the intensity of the fire, which completely consumed the second truck.

Access to the scene for investigation was hampered due to the fire re-igniting, says Halskov.

The Merritt Fire Department and the BC Wildfire Service monitored the fire to ensure it didn't spread.

The northbound lanes were later opened, but southbound lanes remained closed most of the day as police investigated and crews removed debris from the crash.

Neither transport truck was carrying dangerous goods, says Halskov.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Anyone with information or dashcam video from the scene is asked to contact BC Highway Patrol at 250-378-4262 and cite file 2022-4023.

Investigators would also like to speak with a person who stopped at the scene, identified themselves as a witness, but didn't provide their name or contact information.