Highway 97C is pictured looking west from the DriveBC webcam looking west at Elkhart, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019.
Image Credit: DriveBC
Republished December 31, 2019 - 1:12 PM
Original Publication Date December 31, 2019 - 8:33 AM
The highway connecting the Okanagan to the Coquihalla has reopened to single lane alternating traffic after a commercial truck fire today.
The Okanagan Connector, or Highway 97C, has reopened to single lane alternating traffic today, Dec. 31, following a commercial truck fire involving hazardous contents. DriveBC is advising the public to drive carefully through the worksite.
Merritt RCMP detachment commander Sgt. Lorne Wood said in a press release they received word of the vehicle fire at around 1 a.m. today. The truck was travelling east of the Highway 5A-Aspen Grove junction when the fire occurred. Police determined the contents of the truck were extremely volatile, prompting the closure of the highway.
Transport Canada has been notified of the incident as crews continue assessment work. Anyone with any additional information about the incident is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.
A snowfall warning issued by Environment Canada continues today on the Trans-Canada Highway from Rogers Pass to Eagle Pass, the Yellowhead Highway from Tete Jaune Cache to the Alberta border, and Highway 3 from the Kootenay Pass to the Paulson Summit. The warning has been lifted on the Coquihalla Highway from Merritt to Hope.
For the latest on highway conditions check out the DriveBC website here.
For the latest on snowfall warnings go to the Environment Canada website here.
Hwy 97 C is closed this morning.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Drive BC
— This story was updated at 11:04 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, with more information from RCMP.
— This story was updated at 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, to say Highway 97C had reopened to single lane alternating traffic.
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