(UPDATE: Aug. 25 @ 4:30 pm) - Using dive teams and heavy tow trucks, the semi-truck and its driver that went off the RW Bruhn Bridge just west of Sicamous have been recovered.
Officials from the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) added that the RCMP and the BC Coroner’s Office will continue to investigate the fatal incident.
Boaters in the Sicamous Narrows are asked to use caution in and around the channel and drivers are also being warned by the CSRD.
“Short-term closures or single-lane alternating traffic may continue as bridge repairs are planned to begin on Monday,” reads a news release.
“The repair process is expected to take several days. Check DriveBC for updates.”
(UPDATE: Aug. 25 @ 7:30 am) -Hwy 1 has reopened west of Sicamous after being closed for the majority of Saturday.
The highway reopened to both directions of traffic Friday evening with 24-hour traffic control in place and the speed limit reduced to 30km/hr.
Traffic may be impacted on Sunday as the recovery of the submerged semi-truck is planned to get underway.
Officials from the Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) said that if need be, the highway would switch to single-lane alternating traffic during the recovery.
The CSRD added that the plan is to begin repairing the guard rail on the bridge on Monday and drivers should check DriveBC for delays in the area.
Interior Health reported that the diesel spilt from the truck does not appear to pose a significant risk to the drinking water supplies in the area and the CSRD added that the truck’s cargo does not pose any public health hazard.
(UPDATE: Aug. 24 @ 3:30 pm) - The Sicamous RCMP has issued a press release sharing more details of the Saturday morning incident that saw a semi-truck drive off a bridge west of Sicamous.
Just before 7 am, Mounties in Sicamous responded to a report of a single tractor-trailer collision.
“Initial investigation suggests the semi-trailer, which was travelling east, had driven off the Burhn Bridge and down sixty feet into the river,” wrote the RCMP.
“The driver, who is believed to be the only occupant, has not yet been located. No other vehicles were involved.”
The RCMP added that various organizations remain at the scene, including the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, BC Emergency Health Services, Sicamous Fire Rescue and more.
“Due to the significant damage caused to the bridge deck, it will remain closed to traffic until it can be made safe,” added the RCMP.
Traffic is currently being directed to Hwy 97A and Hwy 97B to avoid the area.
(UPDATE: Aug. 24 @ noon) - Hwy 1 remains closed just west of Sicamous and the next update from DriveBC is not expected until 4:30 pm.
In a social media post made by the District of Sicamous, staff from the District and Sicamous Fire Rescue members have been working to clean up debris from the incident.
As a result, Sicamous Beach Park and Sicamous Narrows are closed to allow for clean-up efforts.
While Hwy 1 remains closed, the detour along Hwy 97A has since been cleared after a vehicle incident reduced the highway to single-lane alternating traffic near Swansea Point.
“Expect residual delays due to increased traffic being detoured from Sicamous because of the RW Bruhn Bridge closure,” wrote DriveBC.
Up-to-date information on the Hwy 1 closure can be found online at this link.
(UPDATE: Aug. 24 @ 10:35 am) - The detour route around this morning's vehicle incident on Hwy 1 west of Sicamous has been impacted by an accident and Hwy 97A is now reduced to single-lane alternating traffic.
In an update from DriveBC, officials state the Hwy 97A incident is near Swansea Point and drivers should expect heavy delays in the area.
In the meantime, officials have confirmed that it was a semi-truck that went off the RW Bruhn Bridge outside of Sicamous this morning.
The Columbia-Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) wrote that a dive team has been called in to work on recovery efforts and it appears that diesel fuel has spilled into the water of Shuswap Lake.
“Sicamous Fire Rescue is reporting some people are going into the lake to retrieve items from the truck,” added the news release from the CSRD.
“We ask that the public do not go into the water near the accident scene and avoid the area so emergency crews can work.”
DriveBC is expected to provide updates on both incidents around noon.
(Original story: Aug. 24 @ 9:20 am) -Hwy 1 is closed in both directions just west of Sicamous after a Saturday morning vehicle accident.
The incident occurred on the RW Bruhn Bridge and there is no estimate for when the bridge will be reopened.
Photos from the area show the guard rail of the (UPDATE: Aug. 25 @ 7:30 am) - severely damaged.
With the highway closed, drivers are asked to detour on Hwy 97A and Hwy 97B while crews assess the situation.
An update from DriveBC is expected sometime around noon and can be found online at this link.
