Coquihalla A Mess

Friday, December 05, 2008 06:01 AM

Merritt, B.C.- A Greyhound bus was one of the vehicles involved in a multi vehicle crash on the Coquihalla Highway last night. Four people on the bus received minor injuries. One other person was also injured.

The crashes occured at Larson Hill and involved approximately fourteen vehicles when a north bound commercial vehicle lost control on the ice covered highway.

The area experienced freezing rain and ice pellets which combined with the below freezing temperatures caused the roadway to become very slippery. Of the fourteen vehicles, nine were commercial vehicles including a Greyhound bus and five were either cars or pickup trucks. There was extensive damage to most of the vehicles involved. It is very fortunate that no one was more seriously injured. No charges have been laid at this time and the collisions remain under investigation.

Check the www.drivebc.ca website to check conditions on the Coquihalla highway.

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Posted on Friday, December 05, 2008 06:01 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: He speaks on December 5 2008 9:57 AM

What I can't believe it, a highway through a high elevation known severe winter conditions would have problems at this time of the year.

Hey, maybe sanding and slating the road would be a good idea if it is freezing rain. Or close the highway!

Charges Laid..... How about charging the Ministry of Highways for negligence.

Posted by: Andyfreeze on December 5 2008 10:24 AM

I read somewhere a few yeas ago that the Coquihalla gets about as much snow as the White Pass in the Yukon.
They used to just close the WhitePass for the winter, but I don't know if they still do that or not.
Anyway,it must be a tough job keeping the Coquihalla open!
There is a solution however...more plows!

Posted by: Hindsight on December 5 2008 12:27 PM

ICBC promotes road safety and the misistry of highways dictates the amount of road clearing by having a bid process that awards the lowest bidder to maintain our roads. How much of our insurance dollars actually goes to road maintenance? Wouldn't it be in ICBC's interest to fund road maintenance to reduce claims?

Posted by: swingline on December 6 2008 8:44 AM

But it's not just road maintenance... a lot of people who drive the Coquihalla are from either side, i.e. either the Okanagan or the Lower Mainland, neither of which is known for severe winter weather.

Yes, the roads need to be maintained better, but a lot of people driving that highway just aren't used to the conditions. Slow down, and when the sign says "severe winter conditions ahead" maybe that's a clue that an alternate route would be better. The Hope-Princeton is much more scenic anyways :D