March 26, 2014 - 11:10 AM
GOLDEN - A 14-vehicle pileup on Highway 1 in southeastern British Columbia is being at least partially blamed on wicked winter conditions.
RCMP Sgt. Mike Pears says the chain-reaction crash began at about 11 p.m. Monday night when a tractor-trailer unit jackknifed about 50-kilometres west of Golden, blocking the entire route.
A further eight tractor-trailer rigs, three private vehicles, one pickup truck towing a trailer and a rental vehicle, also towing a trailer, were unable to stop on the snow-covered highway and slammed into the semi.
Pears says fortunately, all injuries appeared to be minor and patients were treated at hospitals in Golden and Revelstoke.
The highway was closed through the night but reopened at about 8 a.m. Wednesday.
The accident remains under investigation and Pears says winter weather should still be expected in that part of B.C., and he urges drivers to use good snow tires and adjust their speed to match road conditions.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2014