Two people suffered serious, but not life-threatening, injuries when a pickup truck pulling a small trailer went off the road and crashed in a ditch on the Trans-Canada Highway Sunday afternoon, forcing a lengthy shutdown of westbound traffic through Aldergrove.
While the cause is still under investigation, it appears the accident was the result of a mechanical problem, Cpl. Mike Halskov of BC RCMP Traffic Services said.
Halskov told the Langley Advance Times the victims were a husband and wife in their forties, both Lower Mainland residents.
He explained the lengthy shutdown was required to allow officers time to collect debris from the road to help determine what caused the crash.
“We want to gather as much evidence as possible,” Halskov said.
Highway 1 was closed westbound near 264th Street in Aldergroveshortly after 12 p.m and did not reopen until around 6 p.m.
Air ambulances were called to the scene along with multiple fire and rescue units and ground ambulances.
Firefighters extricated the pair from the truck and they were then airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital.
Abbotsford Police and Langley RCMP were assisting Port Mann freeway patrol with the traffic.
Police set up a detour for those stuck in the westbound lane between 264th and Mt. Lehman, blocking off the eastbound lane so drivers could turn around.
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