Woman, child dead in B.C. highway crash involving 6 vehicles

A woman and child are dead after amulti-vehicle collision on Highway 1 in Chilliwack, B.C., on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

B.C. Highway Patrol and Chilliwack RCMP responded to multiple 911 calls about the collision around 2:40 p.m. PT.

The crash involved six vehicles, police said.

The woman and child were travelling in the same vehicle.A second child in the vehicle was taken to hospital with serious injuries but is expected to survive, saidMelissa Jongemawith the B.C.Highway Patrol.

No other serious injuries were reported.

Jongema says the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) is working with investigators to determine the cause of the collision.

She said initial information suggests that an obstruction, reportedly a ladder, on the roadway led one or more vehicles to stop abruptly, causing a chain reaction of collisions.

Impairment is not believed to be a factor,she said.

Highway 1 was closed eastbound for approximately 12 hours, reopening just before 3 a.m. Wednesday, according to DriveBC.