2 dead, 3 injured after wrong-way driving collision in Kamloops, B.C.

An RCMP epaulette is seen in Edmonton, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025. (Jason Franson / The Canadian Press)

Police are appealing for witnesses and video as they work to determine how a head-on collision involving a wrong-way driver killed two people and injured three others south of Kamloops Friday night.

Just before 9 p.m., police began receiving calls about a vehicle driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes of Highway 5 just south of the city, the B.C. Highway Patrol said in a news release Saturday.

“Minutes later, and before police could intercept the wrong-way driver, a grey Dodge Ram pickup and a white Hyundai Kona hatchback collided head-on,” the release reads.

Two people died and three others were “seriously wounded” in the crash, police said.

“Police are investigating the possibility that criminal behaviour caused this tragic collision,” said Cpl. Michael McLaughlin, in the release.

“We need every available witness who can tell us what the drivers were doing in the minutes and hours leading up to this collision.”

Police asked anyone who has dash cam video or witnessed the events leading up to the collision to call BCHP Kamloops at 250-828-3111 and quote file number (2100) 2025-3075.

The collision prompted a lengthy closure of Highway 5 overnight, with DriveBC reporting the road wasn’t fully reopened until shortly before 6 a.m. Saturday.

It was one of three closures along various stretches of the highway Friday, along with one caused by a semi truck fire between Hope and Merritt and another one north of Valemount.

• Read more: Coquihalla Highway reopened after semi truck fire Friday