Coquihalla Hwy. reopened after ‘multiple’ incidents, including four-semi crash

Winter weather created dangerous conditions, leading to a number of crashes and a lengthy closure on the mountain highway.

The Coquihalla Highway has reopened in both directions the day after “multiple vehicle incidents”—including a collision involving four semi-trucks—forced a full closure Monday night.

The incidents occurred amid treacherous winter driving conditions, and DriveBC noted that a travel advisory remained in effect Tuesday afternoon.

“Expect compact snow, bumpy sections, limited facilities and narrow lanes due to heavy snow load,” reads a major incident notification. “Crews and equipment working throughout (the) corridor.”

Monday’s incidents closed off an approximately 109-kilometre stretch of the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt.

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin of B.C. Highway Patrol told CTV News the four semis collided in “icy, snowy conditions” near the Great Bear Snowshed shortly after 9 p.m.

“There were no injuries reported, nor was there any obvious criminal behaviour,” McLaughlin said in an email.

Winter conditions prompted snowfall warnings from Environment and Climate Change Canada for the Coquihalla, the Sea to Sky Highway and Highway 3 on Monday, but all have since been lifted.

A stretch of Highway 3 remains closed in both directions due to damage from an atmospheric river earlier this month.