Lions Gate head-on crash not caused by weather conditions: police

Emergency crews survey the damage after a head-on collision shut down traffic on the Lions Gate Bridge Tuesday morning, Dec. 3, 2013. (CTV)

A head-on collision on the Lions Gate Bridge that shut down traffic at the height of the morning rush hour was not caused by poor weather conditions, according to police.

The crash happened when a vehicle travelling northbound entered one of the southbound lanes and collided head-on with another vehicle near the middle of the bridge. It happened just after 8 a.m.

Emergency crews had to use the Jaws of Life to rescue the male driver of the northbound vehicle, who was trapped following the crash.

According to Const. Jeff Palmer, that driver was taken to hospital with fracture injuries and the full extent of his injuries is unknown.

Palmer said two occupants of the southbound vehicle did not appear to have suffered injuries, but they were still taken to hospital for observation.

Investigators have spoken with several witnesses but are still trying to determine a cause. Palmer confirmed the crash was not caused by poor weather conditions such as ice.

The accident shut down bridge traffic for about 1.5 hours until it fully reopened at around 9:35 a.m.

Anyone who witnessed the crash and hasn't already spoken with investigators is asked to call West Vancouver police at 604-925-7300.