Highway 97 is currently closed in both directions for nearly four kilometres north of Prince George due to a multi-vehicle incident. The closure extends between Old Summit Lake Road and Wright Creek Road, approximately six kilometres north of the city.
The British Columbia Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) responded to the incident shortly after 12:40 p.m., transporting one patient to the hospital in stable condition. However, both vehicle incidents north and south of Prince George have been confirmed fatal by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
In addition to the closure near Prince George, Highway 97 is also shut down in both directions between Colebank Road East and Widdis Road, roughly six to ten kilometres north of Hixon. All lanes are blocked due to these incidents, and there are currently no available detours for motorists.
Brian Twaites, a spokesperson for BCEHS, stated, “An ambulance with primary care paramedics, a paramedic practice educator and a paramedic supervisor responded to the scene.” This indicates a significant response to the situation, highlighting the seriousness of the incidents.
DriveBC is actively providing regular updates on the situation as an assessment of the scene is in progress. The highway is expected to reopen at 9 p.m. on March 16th, but details remain unconfirmed.
Highway 97 serves as a critical route connecting Fort St. John and Prince George, making the current closure particularly impactful for local traffic and logistics.
As the situation develops, observers are closely monitoring the response from emergency services and the potential for reopening the highway in a timely manner.
