4 dead after West Kootenay crash involving semi-trailer

Mounties inBritishColumbia'sWest Kootenay region say four people are dead after a crash that closed a stretch of Highway 6 for 11 hours.

Slocan Lake RCMP say it happened south of Nakusp at about 5:50 p.m. PT on Friday, when a passenger truck crossed the centre line while a semi-trailer was approaching in the oncoming lane.

RCMP say the semi driver tried to avoid the crash, but his trailer hit the ditch, causing the rig to flip and scatter its 45-tonne load of timber over the highway, blocking both lanes.

They say part of the load hit the passenger truck, killing all four people inside.

RCMP Cpl. James Grandy says the four killed were from Nelson, about a 115-kilometre drivesouth of the crash site.

RCMP say witnesses managed to rescue the driver of the overturned semi and he was taken to hospital with minor injures, while his vehicle was destroyed by fire.