Approximately 35 people have been sent to nearby hospitals
after a tour bus collided with a tow truck on the Coquihalla Highway on
June 27, 2015.
VANCOUVER — A serious multi-vehicle crash on the Coquihalla Highway near Exit 250 has led to major traffic delays.
The crash–which occurred just south of Brookmere, B.C., about 40 kilometres south of Merritt–involved a tour bus with Richmond-based Universal Coach Lines and a tow truck. Several people were ejected from the bus, according to reports.
In total, 38 people were sent to nearby hospitals, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services. They say two are in serious condition and were airlifted to hospitals in Kelowna and Kamloops. The rest were transported to hospitals in Kamloops, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack and Kelowna.
Drive BC is reporting the Coquihalla is closed to northbound traffic at Exit 250, and southbound traffic is reduced to a single lane.
Barbara Cheng, owner of Universal Coach Lines, is heading to the scene and has confirmed to Global News her bus was involved in the crash.
The crash–which occurred just south of Brookmere, B.C., about 40 kilometres south of Merritt–involved a tour bus with Richmond-based Universal Coach Lines and a tow truck. Several people were ejected from the bus, according to reports.
In total, 38 people were sent to nearby hospitals, according to B.C. Emergency Health Services. They say two are in serious condition and were airlifted to hospitals in Kelowna and Kamloops. The rest were transported to hospitals in Kamloops, Merritt, Hope, Chilliwack and Kelowna.
Drive BC is reporting the Coquihalla is closed to northbound traffic at Exit 250, and southbound traffic is reduced to a single lane.
Barbara Cheng, owner of Universal Coach Lines, is heading to the scene and has confirmed to Global News her bus was involved in the crash.
Bus hit tow truck
“A deer ran into the road, and hit the red car,” said Jess Heer, who was driving northbound to Kamloops when he saw the original accident.
“The people in the car were fine. We pushed the car out of the way, moved it off of the road…we calmed everyone down and then left.”
Heer said even though they pushed the car to the shoulder, it wasn’t completely safe from oncoming traffic.
“They come up that hill pretty fast [and] on that highway the shoulder isn’t big enough for a full car,” he said.
“A lot of people were braking at the last minute, it is such a hazardous spot.”
The tow truck was owned by Mario’s Towing, a full service towing company based in Kelowna. They have told Global News that “management is currently dealing with the situation and will answer any questions on Monday.”
C.J. Hodgson said she was travelling southbound at around 10:30 a.m. when she passed the tour bus.
“The front third or so of the bus is either ripped off or smashed in. It’s wide open. You can see into the bus,” she said.
She said the hoods of a tow truck and a small car were smashed in and the air bags were inflated.
Hodgson said the bus appeared to have crashed into a highway railing and a handful of people were looking over it at the drop below. Another group of people were standing on the road.
“It’s scary, especially with the people looking over the edge,” said Hodgson. “It’s a big drop. If they’re looking for something other than their belongings, that’s scary.”
Last year, dozens of tour bus passengers were injured in a crash 30 kilometres south of Merritt.
More to come…
-with files from Canadian Press