Updated 6:30 p.m.
A head-on collision between an SUV and a commercial flatbed truck on Highway 101 between Oceanview Drive and Burton Road, just outside of Gibsons, has been cleared up, according to the Gibsons & District Volunteer Fire Department.
Lt. Michael Cupit confirmed that one patient from the SUV was transported to hospital with undetermined injuries but appeared OK. The flat-bed truck was transporting an excavator and went into the ditch somewhat, so responders had to get a crane truck to lift the excavator out and onto another truck, "so it took a bit of time," said Cupit. Clearing up the incident took at least a couple of hours he said, leading to highway delays as there's no detour around the section of highway. "We tried to get traffic going as soon as we could."
"[The accident] just happened at the worst time," said Cupit, just as school was getting out and as people were trying to get home from work on a Friday afternoon.
Seven members of the fire department, RCMP and two ambulances responded, said Cupit.
Cupit added that everyone was lucky. "It could have been way worse."
Updated 6:12 p.m.
The call for the motor vehicle incident came in at 3:06 p.m., according to BC Emergency Health Services. Two ambulances were dispatched and one person was transported to hospital.
Updated 5 p.m.:
Southbound traffic on Highway 101 and Lower Road is reportedly moving.
Original story:
Travellers should expect delays on Highway 101 in Gibsons Friday afternoon.
An alert from BC Transit notified bus passengers that because of a motor vehicle accident, its Route 90 and 1 buses will be delayed. "Emergency services are at the scene and long delays are expected," said the notice issued at 4:20 p.m.
Social media posts place the incident as having happened near Burton Road.
Capilano Highways says that the highway is open to single-lane traffic.
Reports from people in traffic say that southbound traffic on Lower Road is also backed up.
More information was not immediately available from RCMP or Drive BC.
