A father and son were killed in a firey crash on Hwy 1 near the entrance to Ashcroft Ranch after their pickup collided head on with a transport truck hauling food. Both vehicles burst into flames, but the truck driver was able to free himself. Attempts by passers by to free the two occupants of the pickup truck were unsuccessful.
On Dec. 23 at approximately 5:30 pm, Ashcroft RCMP, Central Interior Traffic Services Ashcroft, B.C. Ambulance and Ashcroft Fire Department attended to the report of a two vehicle head on collision just south of Ashcroft.
According to RCMP, the northbound pickup truck with two occupants collided with a southbound tractor trailer unit with one occupant in the southbound lane of the highway. Both vehicles were engulfed in flames. The driver of the transport truck was taken to hospital in Kamloops with non life threatening injuries.
Central Interior Traffic Services Ashcroft continues to investigate this collision and are assisting the B.C. Coroners Service with the identification and next of kin notification of the deceased. It is unknown at this time why the pickup truck crossed into the path of the commercial vehicle. A witness prior to the collision observed the pickup truck having difficulty staying within the northbound lane.
Roads were bare and dry at the time of the collision.
The RCMP wish to remind motorists that traffic volumes are increasing with holiday travelers and road conditions can change in an instant. Please slow down, drive to the conditions of the road, don’t drink and drive and stay off of your cell phone if you are driving.
