Commercial truck driver killed in fiery crash with fully loaded lumber truck on Okanagan Connector

A commercial truck driver was killed in fiery collision involving a fully-loaded truck hauling lumber on the Okanagan Connector last night.

The commercial trucks collided near on Highway 97C the Loon Lake exit.

On June 16, just after 9 p.m., emergency crews responded to the collision on Highway 97C near the Loon Lake exit, which closed the route to westbound traffic overnight and into this morning, according to an RCMP news release.

"Preliminary findings at the crash scene suggests that a B-Train semi-tractor trailer unit, fully loaded with lumber, had been parked stationary and unoccupied, while awaiting a tow truck after becoming disabled when it was struck from behind," BC RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Jesse O’Donaghey said in the release.

"Tragically the operator of the second commercial vehicle was pronounced deceased at the scene. Emergency crews were unable to extract that operator before the commercial vehicle became fully engulfed in flames."

Highway 97C westbound remains closed as the trucks continue to smoulder, RCMP said. It will not reopen until the wreckage is removed and the area is safe.

Updates on the closure can be found on the DriveBC website here.

Merritt RCMP and the B.C. Highway Patrol are investigating the crash, while B.C. Coroners Service are investigating the circumstances around the driver's death.

If you witnessed this crash and have not yet spoken to police, or you have dash camera footage of the collision, you can contact Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.

—This story was corrected at 8:07 a.m. Friday, June 18, 2021 to say one of the trucks was hauling lumber and was not a logging truck.

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