UPDATE:
A collision that shut down the Coquihalla Highway northbound near Comstock Road for several hours is now being reported as a fatal incident.
According to Merritt RCMP Staff Sgt. Joshua Roda, a small car was seen travelling the wrong way down Highway 5 at about 8 a.m. Monday.
Then, only minutes later, Merritt RCMP received a report that the car had been involved in a head-on collision with a transport van in the northbound lanes of the highway.
The driver, and sole occupant of the small car, was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The occupants of the transport van sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment.
“Initial witness reports indicate the car was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes at a high rate of speed prior to the collision,” said Staff Sgt. Roda.
The Coquihalla was closed northbound for approximately nine hours while RCMP, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure assisted with the investigation. The highway reopened at about 3:30 p.m.
Merritt RCMP, along with BC Highway Patrol, Emergency Health Services, and local fire crews, responded to the scene.
Anyone who may have dash camera footage from the area around the time of the collision is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.
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The Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt is closed northbound on Monday morning due to a vehicle incident.
The incident happened northbound on the highway close to Comstock Road just after 8 a.m. on June 15.
According to DriveBC, travellers should expect the road to be closed for several hours. There is no estimated time of re-opening.
An assessment is underway and multiple agencies are on scene including emergency services and the RCMP.
CLOSED – #BCHwy5 / #CoquihallaHwy is CLOSED northbound between #HopeBC and #Merritt due to a vehicle incident. Travelers should expect the road to be closed for several hours. Assessment in progress. There is no estimated time of opening available at this time. Alternate route… https://t.co/h8FxtUqlkT
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) June 15, 2026
Black Press Media will update the story as more information becomes available.