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It’s been a tragic, nightmarish stretch on British Columbia’s highways.
Over the past week, 21 people have died in crashes on BC highways in a series of fatal crashes.
The Province says there were 19 accidental motor-vehicle-related deaths reported to the BC Coroners Service (BCCS) between Friday, July 5, and Wednesday, July 10.
However, another fatal crash that claimed two lives on the Trans-Canada Highway near Boston Bar on Thursday bumps that total up to 21 over the period of a week.
"We extend our condolences to all affected by these tragedies,” said John McNamee, acting chief coroner. “We know there are far-reaching impacts, as family and friends across the province, and beyond, mourn the loss of their loved ones.”
According to the BCCS, 12 of the 21 deaths over the past week have come in the Interior Health region.
That includes a pair of multi-vehicle collisions that claimed four lives apiece in Keremeos and near Nakusp, as well as a single-vehicle crash that killed three people near Invermere.
Another tragic incident outside of the IH region saw a young family of three killed in a head-on collision on Hwy 7 in Agassiz.
While the 21 deaths in seven days is a shocking number, July is typically the deadliest month for motor vehicle incidents in BC.
BCCS data says there were 331 motor-vehicle incident deaths in BC in 2023 and 45 of them happened in July, with August and September next on the list at 32 and 33 deaths respectively.
"While so many of us look forward to summer trips, unfortunately, statistics show the risk of deadly motor-vehicle crashes is much greater in July, August and September,” McNamee noted.
In the wake of these recent incidents, the BCCS is urging residents and visitors to take extra care while planning their summer road trips.