Highway 3 reopens

Photo: Contributed - Emile Beaulieu

UPDATE 1:30 P.M. 

Hwy. 3 is expecting to open completely by 2 p.m., after a crash this morning closed the highway.

According to RCMP, at approximately 7:45 a.m., an eastbound truck crossed the double yellow centre line crashing head-on into a westbound vehicle.

Sgt. Barry Kennedy with Princeton RCMP says the two occupants of the westbound vehicle received minor injuries and were taken to hospital via ambulance.

The driver, and only occupant, of the eastbound vehicle received serious injuries and was air lifted to Kelowna General Hospital.

He was suffering from broken bones and internal injuries, his current condition is unknown.

Kennedy says the accident victims were fortunate that the first person on scene was a doctor, who happened to be driving on the highway.

The doctor was able to do a trauma assessment and help the patients until paramedics arrived.

A witness on the scene told Castanet the driver of the eastbound vehicle may have fallen asleep at the wheel.

Sgt. Kennedy says they are looking into that possibility, and the man's truck has been sent off for a mechanical inspection to make sure it was operating properly.

There is no indication drugs or alcohol were a factor.

RCMP are still on the scene and continue to investigate the accident.  

ORIGINAL

Hwy. 3, just east of the Hope-Princeton, is single-lane alternating after a two vehicle head on crash.

The crash, just before 8 a.m., occurred one kilometre west of Hedley. 

There are unconfirmed reports someone was air lifted to Kelowna General Hospital. 

The RCMP have not yet provided any details regarding the accident.

We will have more details as they become available.

For current traffic conditions and road closure information check out DriveBC.ca

Photo: Contributed - Emile Beaulieu