3 Fort St. John residents dead after HWY 97 crash

Photo Submitted/Energeticcity.ca

Three Fort St. John residents are dead as the result of a two-vehicle accident near Dawson Creek. 

Sergeant Kurt Peats says the Dawson Creek RCMP detachment received a report of an accident at just after 3 a.m. Friday, at the intersection of the Mason and Sweetwater roads.

Early indications suggest a blue 2004 Dodge quad-cab pick-up was traveling Northbound on the Alaska highway, and was being followed by a loaded B-train.

The pick-up signaled it was going to turn left onto the Mason Road. The semi trailer behind began to pass the pick-up in the right (inside) lane.  At the last minute, the driver of the pick-up decided to turn right onto Sweetwater Road, and was broadsided by the semi.

Sergeant Peats says the three occupants of the pick-up were killed instantly, while the driver of the semi received minor injuries.

The deceased are described as two females, aged 18 and 38, and a 30 year-old male, all from the Fort St. John area.   Their names have not yet been released by police.

Peats says two of the victims were wearing seatbelts, while one was not. Alcohol is believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

The accident is still under investigation.