1 dead, 4 hospitalized in serious crash that closed Highway 1 near Popkum, B.C.

Images from the scene show a white SUV with significant front-end damage and a dark-coloured sedan facing the opposite direction. (CTV News)

B.C. Highway Patrol says “criminality cannot be ruled out” after a serious collision killed one person and sent four others to hospital Thursday night.

The crash occurred shortly before 6:50 p.m. in the westbound lanes of Highway 1 near Laidlaw, B.C., the BCHP said in a news release Friday.

Images from the scene show a white SUV with significant front-end damage and a dark-coloured sedan facing the opposite direction.

Police said the deceased—a 29-year-old woman from Mission—was a passenger in the sedan. The vehicle’s driver, a 65-year-old Agassiz man, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, according to the BCHP.

Mounties from Hope, Agassiz and Chilliwack all responded to the scene along with highway patrol. In an earlier statement Friday, Staff Sgt. Mike Sargent, of Hope RCMP, said a total of four people were taken to hospital.

One was airlifted with serious injuries. The other three suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were transported via ground ambulance, according to police.

The BCHP release indicates two other passengers in the sedan, along with the driver of the SUV, suffered minor injuries.

“Sadly this incident has had a very tragic outcome, our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased,” said Sargent.

The highway was closed in both directions for several hours, but has since reopened, he said, adding that the factors that caused the collision are still under investigation.

In the BCHP release, Cpl. Michael McLaughlin said highway patrol investigators have taken over the case because they “cannot rule out a criminal cause” for the crash.

“We will need to investigate thoroughly, gather dash camera video, and speak to more witnesses to get a conclusive idea of what happened,” McLaughlin said in the release.

He asked anyone who has video of what happened in the minutes leading up to the incident or “saw concerning behaviour from either the black Hyundai sedan or the white Hyundai SUV” to call BCHP Chilliwack at 604-702-4039 and quote file number (1501) 2025-46642.