The Trans-Canada Highway has re-opened after being closed for more than five hours when a semi carrying fertilizer crashed and caught fire early Tuesday morning.
RCMP say the crash took place on July 22 at around 5 a.m. when the westbound tractor-trailer unit crashed into the westside road barrier at the access road to the Meadows in the Sky Parkway in Mount Revelstoke National Park.
“The tractor trailer unit caught fire as a result of the accident which then resulted in the trailer catching fire,” said Staff-Sgt. Kurt Grabinsky of the Revelstoke RCMP in a news release. “Diesel fuel was present on the highway as a result. The trailer contains fertilizer, some of which has spilled onto the highway.”
Revelstoke Fire Rescue Services attended the scene and had the fire contained as of 8 a.m. Parks Canada is also at the scene to assess the environmental impact.
The driver and passenger both escaped unscathed.
The highway was closed as a result of the crash and traffic was diverted through Revelstoke during the closure. The highway re-opened at around 11 a.m.
The hiking trail up Mount Revelstoke was also closed due to the burning fertilizer.
“Charges to the driver are pending further investigation from Trans Canada East Traffic Services,” said Grabinsky.
