Authorities suspect impairment was a factor in a fatal crash along B.C.’s Coquihalla Highway over the weekend—and they’re trying to determine what one of the drivers involved was doing before he got behind the wheel. The head-on collision between a black Toyota Tacoma and white Toyota Rav 4 happened along Highway 5 near Merritt on the morning of Oct. 16. A 24-year-old man from Surrey who was a passenger in the Rav 4 was killed. B.C. Highway Patrol said when the crash was reported around 8:30 a.m., officers were already heading toward the area in response to “multiple complaints” about a southbound vehicle in the northbound lanes. They are now investigating the Tacoma driver—a 22-year-old man from Coldwater—for suspected impairment, and put out a call for the public’s help Monday. “We need more video and witnesses who can tell us what the driver of the black Toyota Tacoma was doing before he started driving,” Sgt. Michael McLaughlin said in a statement Monday. “If you saw what the driver was doing before he started driving, we need to talk to you.” Some witnesses have already reported seeing the Tacoma enter Highway 5 near Lac Le Jeune, authorities said. Three other occupants of the Rav 4, all Surrey residents between the ages of 24 and 38, were hospitalized with serious injuries. B.C. Highway Patrol said the Tacoma driver, who was the lone occupant of the pickup, only appears to have suffered minor injuries. Anyone with information on the incident, or relevant dash-cam video, is asked to contact police at 250-828-3311 and quote file (2100) 2026-2297.
