Police are "amazed" no one was seriously hurt or killed in a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 99 near the Blundell Road overpass Tuesday morning that closed the northbound lanes for much of the day.
“Investigators are amazed there are no fatalities associated to this collision, given the destruction of the vehicles,” said Cpl. Ronda McEwen, a spokesperson for the B.C. RCMP Traffic Services, via a news release.
Just before 9 a.m. initial reports indicate a semi-trailer truck rear-ended a van, which sparked a pile up with three additional vehicles.
McEwen described the scene as "chaotic" while noting no one was seriously injured.
The cause of the crash was not known as of Tuesday afternoon, said McEwen, however, officers from the RCMP’s Integrated Collision and Reconstructionist Service (ICARS) and Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE) officers were assisting with the investigation.
Three people were taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, said McEwen.
Images of the crash from traffic reporting helicopters showed a Toyota Highlander flipped on its side. McEwen said both of the female passengers in the Highlander were able to walk away from the scene.
McEwen took the opportunity to remind drivers to remain attentive while driving and refrain from using cell phones granted many people driving by the scene of the accident were taking photos.
“This is not only dangerous, potentially causing another collision, but a complete disregard for the injured and the emergency personnel trying to manage a very challenging incident,” she said.
Anyone with information regarding the accident is asked to contact RCMP Deas Island Traffic Services at 778-290-2400.
Cars flipped and littered along #hwy99 nb in Richmond. pic.twitter.com/3b9TNytDcJ
— Matthew Van Deventer (@MattVanDeventer) November 24, 2015
