Heavy snow prompts warning for Coquihalla between Hope, Merritt

HOPE (NEWS 1130) – Conditions remain dicey for people driving along the Coquihalla Thursday, with heavy snowfall expected to last into Friday.

A Winter Storm Warning has been issued for the highway between Hope and Merritt, with nearly 30 centimetres possible by Friday morning. The warning also covers Highway 3 between Hope to Princeton via Allison Pass.

Drivers are being warned that the weather can change suddenly through the mountainous area, creating hazardous conditions.

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• Weather caused ‘cascading, chain reaction’ that led to deadly Coquihalla crash: RCMP

People are reminded to drive to conditions and to ensure they have the appropriate tires before heading out.

Weather is being partially blamed for a deadly pile-up on the Coquihalla earlier this month, just outside of Hope. A man and his dog were killed in the crash, which left dozens of other people hurt.

“The road conditions in the area of the collision were treacherous and caught many unaware,” Mounties said on Feb. 11, a day after the deadly crash. As a result of the road conditions, at least two dozen vehicles, including a bus, were involved in the crash.