The two victims in a devastating crash on Highway 1 Tuesday afternoon are being identified as a mother and son from the Lower Mainland.
Six vehicles collided on Highway 1 eastbound near the Yale Road Exit at approximately 2:40 p.m., Highway Patrol said.
The mother and her twins were on their way to Kelowna to visit family.
The boy’s twin brother was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries but is expected to survive.
A GoFundMe has now been set up to help pay for funeral costs and other expenses the family may incur.
There were no other serious injuries among the 10 people involved in the crash, police said, adding that the investigation into the accident is still in the early stages.
“Initial information suggests that one or more vehicles stopped abruptly due to an obstruction in the roadway,” Highway Patrol said in a release. “At least one vehicle failed to stop in time and caused a chain reaction of collisions. Impairment is not believed to be a factor.”
Cpl. Melissa Jongema with the B.C. Highway Patrol told Global News that it appears a ladder was sitting on the road, which caused the obstruction.
She said it was unclear where the ladder came from and that is still under investigation.
“It was a very complex scene,” Jongema said.
“And it was very tragic scene for all of those involved, including our first responders, all the witnesses, all the drivers and passengers on the scene and everyone who stopped to help, including paramedics, fire department, and, there just a lot of people in the area at the time, due to the time of day and the busyness of the area, this incident affected a lot of people.”
At least 49 people lost their lives in traffic fatalities last month, according to the BC Coroners Service.
“The numbers are shocking to me and they’re also heartbreaking,” Cpl. Dave Noon with the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstructive Service told Global News.
“Those people have left behind families that are now grieving and trying to address that void left in their lives.”
-with files from Simon Little