UPDATE: RCMP confirm both crashes on Hwy 5 north of Kamloops were fatal

(UPDATE: Dec. 28 @ 4 pm) – The Barriere RCMP have provided more information about the second car accident that was impacting traffic on Highway 5, north of Kamloops Thursday morning.

According to police, the incident closer to Barriere, near the Oliver Creek Forest Service Road, was a fatal crash that happened around 6:50 am.

The initial investigation has found that the driver of a Toyota Corolla travelling southbound collided with an on-coming Ford Sprinter van as they tried to pass a semi-trailer truck.

“The driver and two passengers of the Toyota Corolla were found deceased, while the driver of the Ford Sprinter van was transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries,” says a release from the RCMP.

The highway closed in both directions for several hours earlier today, but has since reopened.

The investigation is still ongoing and in the early stages so, no other information is expected to be released at this time.

(UPDATE: Dec. 28 @ 1:20 pm) - DriveBC says both incidents north of Kamloops have been cleared.

As a result, Hwy 5 is fully open.

(UPDATE: Dec. 28 @ 8:15 am) - Emergency crews are responding to a pair of incidents on Hwy 5 north of Kamloops this morning.

According to police, the incident closer to Kamloops, in the Rayleigh area, was a fatal single-vehicle crash around 6 am.

A release from the RCMP said the vehicle went into the ditch near the train tracks just north of Puett Ranch Road and first responders found one person dead when they arrived.

The BC Coroners Service has been notified and will be conducting an investigation into the person's untimely death.

“The victim is believed to have been the vehicle’s sole occupant,” said Cpl. Crystal Evelyn. “Municipal traffic and frontline officers remain on scene as part of the investigation. One southbound lane is currently closed.”

While the fatal incident has only one lane of traffic closed, a separate incident has the highway fully shut down around 35 kilometres up the road, just south of Barriere.

(Original story: Dec. 28 @ 7:50 am) - DriveBC is reporting a highway closure that will affect travellers in the Kamloops area.

Hwy 5 is currently shut down in both directions between Kamloops and Barriere.

DriveBC says the closure is due to a “vehicle incident.”

⛔️#BCHwy5 The highway is CLOSED in both directions south of #BarriereBC between Oliver Creek Forest Service Rd and Carilla Rd due to a vehicle incident. Crews on scene. Assessment in progress. No detour available. #Kamloops #LittleFortBC

ℹ️For more info:https://t.co/OtX1CZKHET pic.twitter.com/J5NwXGRhK1

— DriveBC (@DriveBC) December 28, 2023

At this time, not many details are available, but the agency notes that no detour is available.

Crews are reportedly at the scene and DriveBC has promised an update at 8:30 am.

KamloopsNow will update this story as more information becomes available.