Fatal crash in Chilliwack, B.C., closes Hwy 1 eastbound for hours

UPDATE Aug. 7, 2024:Woman, child dead in B.C. highway crash involving 6 vehicles

A fatal, multi-vehicle crash in Chilliwack, B.C., on Tuesday afternoon closed Highway 1 eastbound for around 12 hours.

B.C. Highway Patroland Chilliwack RCMPsaid in a statement that they responded to the crash nearYale Road West just after 2:45 p.m. PT.

Police confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries due to the crash.

"From what we've heard it's fiveor six[vehicles involved]," Cpl. Melissa Jongemawith B.C. Highway Patrol told CBC News."We had a lot of ambulances on the scene and we're requested helicopters, so there are people being transported to multiple hospitals."

"We just need to wait until investigators are able to touch base with all of those who are injured, and the families of those who have lost a loved one today, [before] we get that final number," Jongema added, in response to a question about how many people were killed and injured in the crash.

The highway was closed eastbound at No. 3 Road with just a single lane of westbound traffic open initially.

The highway fully reopened just before 3 a.m. PT Wednesday, according to DriveBC.

The Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) has been called to assist, B.C. Highway Patrol said Tuesday afternoon.