UPDATE (11:30 p.m.): Highway 97 is now open between Picard Road and Hill Road near McLeese Lake.
The two-vehicle collision that closed the highway for many hours has claimed a woman’s life, police confirm.
Just before 1 p.m., RCMP officers were called to a report of a two-vehicle collision near the 10700 block of Highway 97. Upon arrival, officers discovered a woman was deceased and two men were injured, according to a press release from the RCMP.
“Initial investigation has determined a head-on collision occurred when a northbound Ford Expedition crossed the centre line, colliding with a southbound Ford F350,” according to police. “The driver of the Expedition suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a larger area hospital, while the driver of the F350 suffered serious injuries and was transferred by the BC Emergency Health Service ground ambulance to an area hospital. The passenger of the F350, a woman, was pronounced dead at the scene.”
The cause of the collision remains under investigation.
A Collision Reconstructionist and Analyst assisted the RCMP North District Traffic Services with their investigation and scene evaluations.
UPDATE (4 p.m.): According to Drive BC, the estimated time of re-opening is 11 p.m. The next update will be around 9 p.m.
ORIGINAL: Emergency crews are headed to the scene of a serious motor vehicle incident just north of McLeese Lake Friday afternoon that has closed Highway 97 in both directions.
Quesnel RCMP confirmed both Quesnel and Williams Lake officers are responding to the incident.
Drive BC is reporting it is a “multi-vehicle incident’ between Picard Road and Hill Road for 4.7 kilometres, about 40 kilometres north of Wildwood.
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The road is closed and there is no detour available, states Drive BC.
Highway 97 is expected to be closed “for some time” according to Quesnel staff.
More to come.
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