Two people are dead after a car collided with a logging truck on Highway 16 east near Guest Road on Thursday afternoon.
The incident occurred at about 2:45 p.m. when a westbound car crossed the centre line and hit an eastbound loaded logging truck, about 30 kilometres east of Vanderhoof.
After the initial collision, a second westbound car collided with the truck. A westbound commercial tractor trailer unit was also involved after it hit some of the logs that had fallen from the logging truck as a result of the collision. Both drivers of the cars were pronounced dead at the scene. The drivers of the commercial vehicles were treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident.
Vanderhoof RCMP and Prince George Traffic Services attended the accident. Highway 16 was closed in both directions until 4 a.m. on Friday morning.
Corporal Darren Underhill from the Vanderhoof RCMP said the logging truck lost about 95 per cent of its load.
“There was a lot of debris – the logging truck lost most of its logs which were strewn across the highway and on the shoulder.
“That’s why it took so long for the highway to be reopened,” said Cpl. Underhill.
The logs were still on the side of the highway over the weekend (see photo above).
The incident is still under investigation and the names of the deceased have not yet been released. Speed and alcohol are not thought to be factors in the cause of the crash.
Anyone who witnessed the crash or has any information about it should contact the Vanderhoof RCMP on 250-567-2222.
