Photo: DriveBC

Power lines came down across Highway 8, closing the route between Merritt and Spences Bridge

UPDATE 12:35 p.m.

Highway 8 has reopened to single-lane alternating traffic.

DriveBC advises motorists to pass with caution.

Power remains out to 450 homes and businesses between Merritt and Spences Bridge.

BC Hydro estimates that electricity should be restored by 5 p.m.

ORIGINAL 10:40 a.m.

A motor vehicle crash knocked out power to 450 BC Hydro customers and closed Highway 8, west of Merritt.

According to DriveBC, the highway is closed in both directions between Sunshine Valley Rd and Fyall Rd due to downed power lines.

The BC Hydro outages map shows that 450 customers have been without electricity since 8:30 a.m. in an area stretching from Canford to just east of Spences Bridge.

A BC Hydro crew has been dispatched to the scene and was expected to arrive at 11 a.m.

There is no indication of when the lights might come back on.