Highway Safety & Traffic Incidents in Central BC
active transportation
Coverage of highway closures, traffic incidents, and safety concerns on major BC Interior routes including the Coquihala, Highway 1, Highway 97, and Highway 5, with focus on crashes, weather-related disruptions, impaired driving, and road safety enforcement.
Coverage Timeline
- Oct 30 Pile burning project planned for Helmer Lake area ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 28 Multiple vehicle crashes close highways during B.C. Interior's 1st major snowfall ↗ CBC News British Columbia details
- UPDATE: Hwy 97C reopens following lengthy closure ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Snowy conditions halting traffic on mountain highway passes near Merritt ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 27 System bringing pockets of heavy snow, lowering snow levels for Kamloops area ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 25 DriveBC warns of treacherous Merritt-area road conditions following overnight snowfall ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 23 Medical incident causes traffic backup along Highway 1 through Kamloops ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 21 Three dead after van collides with tow truck east of Sicamous ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 19 Impaired driving suspected in deadly Saturday crash near Merritt; police appeal for witnesses ↗ CFJC Today details
- Speed and impairment suspected factors in fatal wrong-way Coquihalla collision ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Oct 17 UPDATE: Coquihalla reopens after head-on collision north of Merritt ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 16 Strong winds and possible snow forecast for Coquihalla, Okanagan Connector this weekend ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Saturday storm to bring snow, gusty winds to parts of central, southern B.C. on Election Day ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 14 Toddler found unrestrained in defective semi-truck driving through Shuswap: BC Highway Patrol ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 13 Pair of friends issued driving prohibitions, have vehicles towed after impaired driving near Heffley Creek ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 10 Three vehicle crash slows Trans-Canada traffic in Valleyview ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 9 Vehicle rollover slows southbound Highway 5 traffic north of Merritt ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 8 One hospitalized after head-on collision near 100 Mile House ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 6 Novice Vancouver driver nabbed for 149 km/h jaunt through Merritt construction zone ↗ CFJC Today details
- ‘At least she wasn’t asleep’: Tesla’s speed through Hwy 5 construction zone ‘appalling’ ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Oct 2 Impairment suspected in highway crash that injures two near Williams Lake ↗ CFJC Today details
- Oct 1 Vehicle incident closes Highway 1 between Kamloops and Chase ↗ CFJC Today details
- Cariboo drivers urged to adjust driving to changing road conditions ↗ CFJC Today details
- Sep 24 Penticton woman, 23, dies after truck crashes off Hwy 3 near Osoyoos ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Sep 21 Vehicle incident closes northbound lanes of Coquihalla Highway north of Merritt overnight ↗ CFJC Today details
- Sep 9 Every B.C. Conservative legislator gets shadow portfolio after defections forbidden ↳ In this roundup: A passenger on Highway 99 near Porteau Cove was travelling in a taxi clocked at 133 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, resulting in a seven-day impound and $368 fine for a Squamish taxi driver. Castanet Kamloops roundup details
- Sep 3 Semi-truck destroys trailer in Highway 1 crash east of Sicamous; no serious injuries reported ↗ CFJC Today details
- Aug 27 Highway 1 reopens in the Fraser Canyon after seven-week closure due to wildfires ↗ CFJC Today details
- Aug 18 Summer campaign sees 24 impaired drivers removed from Kamloops-area highways: BC Highway Patrol ↗ CFJC Today details
- Aug 17 Semi fails inspection after speeding through construction zone on the Coquihalla ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Faulty semi-truck taken out of service after speeding through Merritt construction zone ↗ CFJC Today details
- Mounties search for driver with important information about Coquihalla crash forbidden Castanet Kamloops details
- Aug 15 Highway 97 to reopen in South Cariboo ↗ CFJC Today details
- Aug 13 Fire numbers ease in south Cariboo, while Coquihalla under threat again near Merritt ↗ Radio NL details
- Aug 11 Massive Ainslie Creek wildfire may close Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge ↗ CFJC Today details
- Aug 7 RCMP looking for witness of Coquihalla crash south of Merritt ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jul 31 Long-weekend delays expected on Coquihalla ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Construction, holiday traffic to cause long-weekend delays on Coquihalla Highway ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jul 30 Extra caution urged on ‘low-volume’ Highway 24 amid Cariboo Highway closure ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jul 27 Man loses dealership’s car during ‘overnight test-drive’ from Vancouver to Kelowna ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Driver ticketed near Merritt after BC Highway Patrol confirms test-driven vehicle can hit at least 172 km/h ↗ CFJC Today details
- Higher traffic volumes and construction will lead to more delays: DriveBC forbidden Castanet Kamloops details
- Evacuees describe thick smoke seen while leaving 70 Mile House as Pear Lake wildfire grew ↗ archived Castanet Kamloops details
- Jul 24 Highway 3 reopens after wildfire threat but Trans-Canada remains closed near Boston Bar ↗ CFJC Today details
- UPDATE: Wildfire started from motorhome on Hwy 5 now under control ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Jul 23 UPDATE: Grassfire along Coquihalla near Kamloops under control; highway lane closed for vehicle recovery ↗ CFJC Today details
- No estimate when highways 1, 3 will reopen forbidden Castanet Kamloops details
- Jul 22 Hwy 1 and Hwy 3 both closed on Interior side of Hope due to wildfires ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Wildfires closing major routes, including Highway 1 and 3 forbidden Castanet Kamloops details
- With flames in backyard, Boston Bar resident tells of B.C. town surrounded by fire ↗ InfoNews Kamloops details
- UPDATE: Wildfires close two major B.C. highways as Fraser Canyon evacuation orders expand ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jul 20 B.C. learner driver faces tickets for driving 168 km/h in 120 km/h zone forbidden Castanet Kamloops details
- Speeding learner driver, 20, gets family’s new SUV impounded on Coquihalla ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Williams Lake woman nabbed for excessive speed on Coquihalla, has father’s SUV impounded ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jul 17 UPDATE: Connector reopens eastbound after serious incident ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Hwy 1 remains closed as BC wildfires threaten communities ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Jul 16 UPDATE: Wildfire alongside the Coquihalla grows to 36 hectares ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Evacuation order issued for Boston Bar; Highway 1 closes nearby due to wildfire ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jul 8 UPDATE: Traffic flowing normally as Coquihalla vehicle fire cleared ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Coquihalla Highway reopens after vehicle fire outside Hope forbidden Castanet Kamloops details
- Kamloops engulfed in fire smoke as Fraser Canyon fires seemingly explode ↗ Radio NL details
- Jul 5 Repairs, clean-up underway following Coquihalla Highway semi-truck fire ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jul 3 UPDATE: Coquihalla fully open again after semi fire ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Semi-truck fire causing delays along Coquihalla Highway south of Merritt ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jun 30 BC Hydro expands fast-charge site at summit of Coquihalla Highway ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Jun 20 Fast-moving wildfire threatens Lytton, shuts down TransCanada through Fraser Canyon ↗ Radio NL details
- UPDATE: Wildfire near Lytton now 'under control' at just over 700 hectares, Hwy 1 reopens ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Jun 15 UPDATE: Coquihalla reopens after serious crash ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Wrong-way crash on Coquihalla near Merritt leaves one dead ↗ Radio NL details
- Coquihalla Highway reopens after fatal wrong-way crash closes stretch ↗ CBC News British Columbia details
- Wrong-way driver killed in head-on crash on Coquihalla south of Merritt ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jun 11 Excessive speeding tickets rise across Kamloops region despite fewer overall violations ↗ Radio NL details
- Speeding tickets down in Kamloops area in May; excessive speeding up across the province ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jun 10 Hundreds of kilometres of highways and side roads in Kamloops area slated for resurfacing work ↗ CFJC Today details
- Jun 8 High-elevation snow possible for Hwy 97C and Hwy 3 over next 2 days ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- Jun 2 Motorcyclist airlifted to hospital after crash on Coquihalla Highway Monday ↗ CFJC Today details
- May 16 Snow warning still in effect for Allison Pass, Pennask Summit and Coquihalla ↗ archived Castanet Kamloops details
- May 15 Snowfall accumulation possible on Coquihalla and Pennask Summits May long weekend ↗ CFJC Today details
- Snow warnings issued for Coquihalla, Connector and Hwy 3 over long weekend ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- May 13 VIDEO: Alberta man driving through BC gets car impounded due to ‘compounding errors’ ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- DASHCAM VIDEO: Alberta driver nabbed for speeding, passing on double-solid lines near Kamloops ↗ CFJC Today details
- Strong wind gusts expected on the Coquihalla Highway and Okanagan Connector ↗ CFJC Today details
- Highway alerts issued for Coquihalla, Okanagan Connector ↗ KamloopsBCNow details
- May 11 “Something about our highways”: Central Interior drivers flagged in province-wide blitz ↗ Radio NL details
Linked Articles by Source
CFJC Today
-
Pile burning project planned for Helmer Lake area ↗Oct 30, 2026 · details
-
Highway 97 to reopen in South Cariboo ↗Aug 15, 2026 · details
CBC News British Columbia
KamloopsBCNow
-
UPDATE: Hwy 97C reopens following lengthy closure ↗Oct 28, 2026 · details
-
Long-weekend delays expected on Coquihalla ↗Jul 31, 2026 · details
-
UPDATE: Coquihalla fully open again after semi fire ↗Jul 3, 2026 · details
-
UPDATE: Coquihalla reopens after serious crash ↗Jun 15, 2026 · details
Castanet Kamloops
-
Every B.C. Conservative legislator gets shadow portfolio after defectionsSep 9, 2026 · details↳ In this roundup: A passenger on Highway 99 near Porteau Cove was travelling in a taxi clocked at 133 km/h in an 80 km/h zone, resulting in a seven-day impound and $368 fine for a Squamish taxi driver.forbidden
-
Mounties search for driver with important information about Coquihalla crashAug 17, 2026 · detailsforbidden
-
Higher traffic volumes and construction will lead to more delays: DriveBCJul 27, 2026 · detailsforbidden
-
Evacuees describe thick smoke seen while leaving 70 Mile House as Pear Lake wildfire grew ↗Jul 27, 2026 · detailsarchived
-
No estimate when highways 1, 3 will reopenJul 23, 2026 · detailsforbidden
-
Wildfires closing major routes, including Highway 1 and 3Jul 22, 2026 · detailsforbidden
-
B.C. learner driver faces tickets for driving 168 km/h in 120 km/h zoneJul 20, 2026 · detailsforbidden
-
Coquihalla Highway reopens after vehicle fire outside HopeJul 8, 2026 · detailsforbidden
-
Snow warning still in effect for Allison Pass, Pennask Summit and Coquihalla ↗May 16, 2026 · detailsarchived
Radio NL
InfoNews Kamloops
Key People, Organizations, and Places
city: Merritt , Kamloops , Boston Bar , Hope , Williams Lake , Clinton , Lytton , Logan Lake , 100 Mile House , 70 Mile House , Kelowna , Sicamous
highway: Coquihala Highway , Highway 5 , Highway 1 , Highway 97C , Highway 3 , Coquihala Highway (Highway 5) , Highway 97 , Highway 5A , Okanagan Connector , Highway 97D , Highway 1 (Trans-Canada Highway)
government_body: BC Highway Patrol , BC Wildfire Service , DriveBC , Thompson-Nicola Regional District , Environment Canada
region: Fraser Canyon
person: Michael McLaughlin
Source transparency: this page lists public news coverage of the topic above. We do not republish original reporting. Click any article title to view local metadata and a link to the original source. Last updated Nov 3, 2026 9:32 pm MST.