A massive multi-vehicle pileup on Highway 3 just west of Castlegar had police and emergency responders busy during the first blast of winter weather on Friday.
The main route west from the city was closed for several hours while crews tried to clear up the mess.
Fire chief Sam Lattanzio said fire crews received a call at about 10:15 a.m. that nine vehicles in two separate groups were involved in multi-vehicle collisions near Crestview Crescent and 14th Avenue, just west of the Cozy Pines Motel.
The first group involved three semi-trucks and one five-ton delivery truck. The second group lower down the highway involved a total of five vehicles, including three passenger vehicles and two trucks pulling trailers.
Lattanzio said some passengers in one of the vehicles were injured and attended to by BC Ambulance Service on the scene. The nature and scope of the injuries is not available at this time.
The highway was closed until about mid-afternoon.
