Crash south of Merritt claims life of woman, injures man

MERRITT – Police in Merritt are releasing details about a fatal crash on the Coquihalla earlier this week.

Merritt RCMP says in a news release that officers were dispatched to a collision on Highway 5 at the Larson Hill exit south of Merritt at approximately 11:20 a.m. Feb. 3.

The collision occurred between two northbound vehicles; a tractor trailer and a broken down grey Ford SUV stopped in the right lane, the news release says. Before police arrived, it was reported that the occupants of the SUV were trapped in the vehicle, and one person had died.

RCMP Central Interior Traffic Services attended and upon arrival, a 29-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene, Merritt RCMP says. A 28-year-old man was rushed to Royal Inland Hospital by air ambulance, and two other men, ages 31 and 37 years old, were taken by ambulance to an area hospital with serious but not life threatening injuries.

Police do not believe speed or alcohol were factors in the crash.

Several RCMP units including crash scene analysts, along with the B.C. Coroners Service are investigating the fatal crash.

Anyone with information on the collision who has not yet spoken to police is asked to call RCMP Central Interior Traffic Services in Merritt at 250-378-4262, quoting file number 2018-637.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Ashley Legassic or call 250-319-7494 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.