ONE person is dead after a head-on collision that shut down Highway 1, and BC Highway Patrol is asking for more witnesses and dash camera video to determine the exact sequence of events that caused the crash.

The first 911 call came just after 7:15 a.m. on Monday, December 22, when three vehicles collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 1 just before the 176 Street exit in Surrey. One of the vehicles appears to have crossed over from the eastbound lanes and caused a head-on collision.

“This collision was immediately and obviously serious, and that caused a complete shutdown of the highway,” says Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “Our first priority is to help the injured, then we need to start the investigation and inform the families of the dead and injured about what happened. We encourage people to consider those families before they post photos of bodies to the internet.”

In order to ensure that families have time to process the information and grieve, police will not be releasing more details about the people involved in the collision at this time.

Anyone who saw the collision, or has dash-camera video of the driving behaviour leading up to the crash, is asked to call BC Highway Patrol – Burnaby at 604-526-9744 and quote file (1003) 2025-4185.

Motorists are encouraged to monitor www.DriveBC.ca for updated information on delays and detours and to learn when the highway is clear.

“We’d like to remind everyone to be extra-cautious and consider slowing down to under the speed limit during dark, dangerous winter driving conditions,” says McLaughlin. “Serious and fatal collisions are the last thing we want to see at Christmas.”