Fiery crash near Merritt kills 2
Collision sparks 20-hectare grass fire
CBC News
Posted: Oct 6, 2012 12:24 PM PT
Last Updated: Oct 6, 2012 3:19 PM PT
Officials say two people were killed when two semi trucks collided on Highway 5A outside of Merritt, B.C., Friday evening.
B.C. Coroners Service spokesperson Barb McLintock said the crash happened sometime around supper hour.
"Two very large commercial semi trailer-type trucks collided on Highway 5A near the Stump Lake rest stop, pretty well head on," McLintock said. "One was carrying cement concrete. Both … were very large, heavy vehicles."
McLintock said one body was retrieved shortly after the crash, but a fire in the other truck prevented investigators from getting into the cab.
She said crews believe they retrieved the second body on Saturday.
"Everybody went back out to the scene of the motor vehicle incident on Highway 5A, and we did confirm there was a second death," she said. "A second person was found in the wreckage."
McLintock says the drivers have not yet been identified, and investigators have not determined the cause of the crash.
The accident also sparked a grass fire around the highway that quickly grew to 20 hectares.
Crews were able to put the blaze out late Friday night and are now monitoring for hot spots.
"It's just a sign of how dry conditions still are," said Michaela Swan with the Wildfire Management Branch. "We’re still in a high to extreme fire danger rating in the Thompson-Okanagan."
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