Hundreds of people were stranded overnight on the Sea to Sky Highway in British Columbia, where a motorcycle crash killed one woman and led to a lengthy road closure.
The crash occurred near the Dix Creek Bridge, about 11 miles north of Horseshoe Bay, around 5:30 p.m. PT.
The highway didn’t reopen until about 2 a.m. PT, prompting some travelers to sleep in their cars and others to seek out motels and campgrounds in the Squamish area — or even camp on the road.
In a press release, the British Columbia RCMP said Highway Patrol speed enforcement officers spotted a pair of motorcyclists who were “reportedly speeding and riding erratically.”
“The officer left his position on the highway and moments later located one of the motorcyclists who had collided with a recreational vehicle,” RCMP said.
“The female motorcyclist died at the scene.”
BC Emergency Medical Services said it sent two ground ambulances and one air ambulance to the scene but did not transport anyone to hospital.
B.C.’s Independent Investigations Office (IIO), which investigates all deaths or cases of serious harm that may have resulted from the actions or inactions of a police officer, is conducting an investigation and is expected to provide an update later Monday.
The BC Coroners Service is conducting its own investigation.
Witness describes ‘stalking’
Witness Aimee King says she was traveling south on the highway about 1.5 miles north of the crash scene when two motorcyclists passed her in the left lane.
“I moved to the right and they flew past, to the point where both my daughter and I noted that they were moving quite quickly,” she told CBC News.
“About 45 seconds later we approached the scene of the fatal crash.”
King said two other motorcyclists were riding in the left lane behind her when the police car passed her.
The incident was captured on dashcam footage obtained and reviewed by CBC News, which shows a police car driving by with its lights and sirens activated.
“The police officer actually moved to pass them on the right and almost hit one of the bikers who was trying to get out of the officer’s way,” she said.
“And then I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is not a safe activity.’
Stranded travelers find a way to pass the time on the Sea to Sky Highway on Sunday. (Brittany Michalchuk/Submitted)
Travelers are stuck
Brittany Michalchuk was returning home to Vancouver when she was caught in the barricade and began taking photos.
She said some people were able to turn around to head back to Squamish to find a place to stay for the night, but many cars were stuck in the rock on one side and the concrete barrier on the other.
“It took me an hour to skate to the front of the line… There were elderly people, there were nursing mothers, people had to catch planes,” she said.
“I saw people playing card games, I saw people setting up full dinner tables. There were a lot of campers there, right? They had picnic supplies, they had folding tables, they had tents. A lot of people were riding bikes.”
The closure prompted some travelers to set up tents along the highway. (Submitted by Brittany Michalchuk)
Akshita Narula said the incident left her and her four- and seven-year-old children stranded for about eight hours.
The family did not take any food or water with them, but, fortunately, they were able to share with other travelers.
“Most people were coming back from camping, so they had some supplies, but yeah, we didn’t have much to do, so (my kids) were just crying,” she said.
Narula said there was no internet access and no communication from officials on the ground about what was happening or how long the wait would be. She said officials also had to help with water and supplies.
“Emergencies happen, as if they could do more if they were handled,” she said.
“Not a play park”
West Vancouver Sea to Sky Green MLA Jeremy Valeriote said serious accidents on the Sea to Sky Highway have become too common.
He called for improving the safety of the road itself, as well as tightening measures to combat careless drivers.
“The Sea to Sky Highway is not a pleasure ride. It is a functional highway for local residents, commuters and tourists,” he said.
“This is not a play park for people who want to drive recklessly.”
Valeriote also called on the RCMP to establish an integrated collision analysis and reconstruction service office in Squamish to help more quickly investigate and resolve crashes.
Transport Minister Mike Farnworth called the highway a “challenging route” and said the province is “always looking for ways to improve the situation.”
“One of the key things we’re trying to do is provide, for example, the ability through Drive BC to notify people of a situation that happened on that highway,” he said.
“Secondly, we remind people that this is a dangerous highway and that they should obey the conditions and speed limits on the road. I know there will be an investigation into what happened.”
The RCMP said it would not comment further due to the IIO’s investigation.
Witnesses or anyone with video footage of motorcyclists between Britannia Beach and the crash site are asked to contact police at 604-526-9744.