Two die in single-vehicle Alaska Highway crash near Summit Lake

FORT NELSON, B.C. — Two people have died in a Highway 97 crash north of Fort Nelson. 

According to a press release by the Northern Rockies RCMP, officers are investigating after a semi-truck left Highway 97 in the early hours on March 3rd and went down an embankment near Summit Lake. 

The Alaska Highway was closed for more than 24 hours after the incident, but it has since reopened. 

The RCMP received an automated crash detection notification on March 3rd at 4.45 a.m on the Alaska Highway near the 605 kilometre mark. 

First responders who were on scene found two people in a loaded semi-truck and trailer, who were trapped in the cab of the vehicle and had suffered fatal injuries. 

The release said the vehicle broke through the guard rail before stopping at a steep embankment. 

No other vehicles were involved in the crash. 

Staff Sergeant Kris Clark, for the B.C. RCMP, said: “While the investigation is in its infancy, road conditions appear to have been a factor in the crash. 

“Work continues to extract the vehicle and its load from the embankment.”

Although the highway was closed in both directions for vehicle recovery, the highway has since been reopened between Tofte Mainline and Recreation Road for 25 kilometres. It is now single lane alternating traffic and travellers should expect long delays. 

Anyone with any information or dash-camera video of the crash is asked to contact the Northern Rockies RCMP at 250-774-2700.