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UPDATE: 2:20 p.m.

Police say one person has died following a multi-vehicle crash between Clearwater and Barriere.

RCMP say emergency crews were called Thursday night after four vehicles collided on Highway 5 in Little Fort.

Investigators have determined that two commercial vehicles crashed, then an SUV struck the wreckage.

Police say in a news release that another commercial vehicle managed to avoid the collision, but a load of lumber was spilled onto the highway in the process.

A driver of one of the commercial vehicles died at the scene, while three other drivers and one witness suffered minor injuries.

The crash closed the highway for several hours, and police and the coroner's service is investigating.

– The Canadian Press

ORIGINAL: 1 p.m.

A fiery crash has closed Highway 5 north of Barriere in the Central Interior, Thursday night.

The three-vehicle collision occurred just before 8 p.m.

Witnesses say two transport trucks and a third vehicle were involved, and flames engulfed the wreckage, but there has been no official confirmation of injuries.

DriveBC says the route was expected to remain closed until  late morning. An alternate route was available via Highways 24, 97 and 1, although the diversion adds a further three-and-a-half hours to travel time.