MERRITT – One person was killed Monday, June 15, 2026, after a small vehicle traveling in the wrong direction collided head-on with a transport van on the Coquihalla Highway.
The collision occurred in the northbound lanes south of Merritt, resulting in a multi-hour closure of a primary transit corridor in British Columbia.
The Merritt RCMP are leading the investigation into the cause of the crash, which transpired during the morning commute.
Incident Timeline
The sequence of events on June 15 was reported as follows:
- 8:08 a.m.: Police receive reports of a small car traveling in the wrong direction in the northbound lanes.
- 8:13 a.m.: Reports are received that the vehicle has been involved in a head-on collision with a transport van.
- 12:00 p.m.: Police confirm that one person died as a result of the crash.
- 3:00 p.m.: Northbound lanes are reopened to traffic.
RCMP said they are working to determine where the wrong-way vehicle first entered the highway and how long it had been traveling against traffic before the initial 8:08 a.m. calls to police.
Investigation and Witness Reports
Initial findings from the scene suggest that the vehicle traveling the wrong way was moving at high speed.
In a statement, the Merritt RCMP noted that these details were based on initial witness reports, and that a full collision reconstruction is underway. Investigators have not yet released the identity of the deceased or the status of any other individuals involved in the collision, pending notification of next of kin and further medical assessment.
The Coquihalla Highway, officially known as Highway 5, is a critical link between the Lower Mainland and the Interior of British Columbia, carrying both commuter and commercial traffic through steep mountain terrain. Due to its gradients, winter conditions and high traffic volume, serious crashes on this route fall under provincial highway safety mandates and are treated as high-priority investigations by police and transportation authorities.
Wrong-way driving incidents resulting in death are typically reviewed under the provisions of British Columbia’s Motor Vehicle Act, which governs driver conduct, speed, and rules of the road on provincial highways.
Traffic Recovery
The collision caused significant disruptions to northbound travel south of Merritt, affecting passenger vehicles and commercial freight moving between the Lower Mainland and the Interior. First responders remained on-site for several hours to manage the wreckage, redirect traffic, and conduct the necessary forensic recovery of the scene.
According to DriveBC, the northbound lanes were fully reopened at approximately 3 p.m. following the clearance of the scene by emergency crews, though residual delays continued as traffic volumes normalized.
Authorities are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have dashcam footage from the area around the time of the crash to contact the Merritt RCMP detachment as the investigation continues.
(Image Credit: Jaynie Lambert via Facebook/Coquihalla Road Reports (And Area))
