Pattullo Bridge closed for several hours after fatal 5-vehicle crash: police

A fatal five-vehicle crash that shut down the Pattullo Bridge between New Westminster and Surrey, B.C., for several hours on Sunday has cleared, according to DriveBC.

Surrey Police Service says officers were called to the east end of the bridge just before 8:30 a.m. PT after a collision involving five vehicles, including a bus.

One female driver died on the scene, police say, despite lifesaving efforts. An unspecified number of other drivers and passengers were injured, with police also not specifying the nature of the injuries.

Police say the Pattullo Bridge was closed in both directions on Sunday morning.

"The investigation is in its early stages and the cause of the collision is unknown," read the police statement.

A spokesperson for B.C. Emergency Health Services told CBC News that five ambulances were dispatched to the scene on Sunday.

Two patients were taken to hospital, one in serious condition and another in stable condition, the spokesperson said.

Police are asking for anyone with more information on the crash, including dashcam footage, to call them at 604-599-0502.

The Pattullo Bridge is currently in the process of being replaced as part of a long-term project that has lasted nearly five years.

In 2016, a report showed the bridge does not meet modern wind and seismic safety standards. The report to Metro Vancouver's transit authority recommended the bridge be replaced no later than 2024.

The replacement bridge is designed to have four traffic lanes, with the potential to be expanded to six. The lanes are planned to be wider than on the existing bridge.