Driver who fell asleep while passing semi-trailer the cause of Coquihalla crash
Mother of family of 5 airlifted to hospital in critical condition
A driver who fell asleep while passing a semi-truck on the Coquihalla Highway this weekend caused a crash that sent all five members of his family to hospital, according to police.
The parents and three children from Alberta were travelling near the Juliet Creek overpass south of Merritt when the father fell asleep at the wheel, according to RCMP Const. Mike Halskov.
Investigators believe the driver was jolted awake when he hit the shoulder on the left side of the highway, and he overcorrected, side-swiping the semi-truck he was trying to pass and causing his vehicle to roll.
The crash left the mother, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, with severe injuries to her lower body. She was airlifted to hospital in critical condition.
'Fortunately, everyone was strapped in'
The father and three children, who range in age from infant to seven or eight years old, were relatively unscathed, Halskov said. B.C. Emergency Health Services reported taking all four to hospital by ambulance.
"In this case, fortunately, everyone was strapped in. Injuries, apart from one individual … were relatively minor, thankfully," Halskov said.
The crash closed Highway 5 for several hours on Sunday night. Halskov said it should serve as an important reminder to drivers to be adequately rested.
"If you're going to be embarking on a long trip, please make sure that you've had plenty of rest before you leave," Halskov said.