A terrible accident on the east side of Burns Lake claimed the live of a 43 year-old female driver of an SUV. According to an RCMP report, the eastbound SUV collided with a westbound commercial transport truck at approximately 10:22 p.m. on Nov. 20.
Both vehicles were engulfed in flames immediately. The driver of the transport truck was taken to Lake District Hospital with minor injuries.
The name of the deceased woman is not being released due to efforts to notify next of kin.
Burns Lake RCMP, the Burns Lake Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, and Vanderhoof traffic services responded to the accident.
Highway 16 is currently open to one lane traffic, but will be closed by 10 a.m. for vehicle recovery. Earlier, RCMP were rerouting traffic along back roads. As of 11 a.m. the highway is now open for traffic.
An RCMP North District collision analyst is on scene investigating the cause of the accident. Full details will not likely be available until the Coroners’ report is released, but RCMP spokesperson cst. Lesley Smith confirmed the roads were not bare.
“I do understand there was compact snow,” Smith said. “I don’t know if that’s the reason why she went into oncoming traffic.”
DriveBC, as of 9 a.m. is reporting "compact snow with slippery sections" on Hwy. 16 east and west of Burns Lake.
UPDATE: The Hwy. 16 open in both directions.