Fatal crash closes B.C.'s Highway 5, 2nd incident in a week on same stretch of road

Highway 5, north of Kamloops, B.C., was shut downThursday afternoon after RCMP reported adriver was killed and a passenger taken to hospital following a collision involving two commercial vehicles and a pickup truck.

B.C. Highway Patrol said the crash happened at 12:08 p.m. near Louis Creek, about five kilometressouth of Barriere.

"Highway 5 is currently closed in both directions at this time, and a time of re-opening is undetermined," said highway patrol spokesman Const. Mike Moore.

Almost exactly one week earlier, another driver was killed whentwo commercial vehicles collided on the same stretch of Highway 5, about 16 kilometres further southnear McLure.

Barriere RCMP, B.C. Highway Patrol officers from Kamloops and Clearwater, as well as collision analysts and reconstruction experts, responded to Thursday's incident.

Moore says B.C. Highway Patrol has taken over the investigation, andwhile it's still in early stages, there wasnothing that initially suggested anycriminal actions contributed to the crash.

He said drivers should check with DriveBC for updates on the highway closure and possible detours.