Two deaths are being investigated by the B.C. Coroner's Service after a car crash last night closed the Trans-Canada Highway in the Shuswap.

Drive B.C. reported yesterday, Oct. 2, that Highway 1 was closed in Tappen, north of Salmon Arm, due to a vehicle incident.

The B.C. Coroner's Service confirmed this morning, Oct. 3, it is investigating two deaths in relation to the incident but did not provide additional details as the investigation is in its early stages.

The Salmon Arm RCMP reported police officers responded to a two-vehicle collision on the Trans-Canada Highway near Kirkpatrick Road in the Tappen/Carlin area last night.

An SUV was travelling east with four people when it collided head on with a transport truck that was westbound.

"The investigation has revealed the driver of the SUV was travelling east in the west bound lanes," according to an RCMP news release.

Two adults from the eastbound SUV were pronounced dead at the scene. The two passengers in the SUV, both children, were taken to hospital and are in stable condition, according to the RCMP.

"The driver and co-driver of the west bound semi truck suffered only minor injuries and were not transported to hospital and co-operated with the investigation," the release reads.

The RCMP investigation is ongoing but it appears this was a case of "driver error" with the SUV, RCMP said.

— This story was updated at 4:36 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, 2022, with information from RCMP.


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