Part of the Trans-Canada Highway near Revelstoke, B.C. was reopened after a “serious vehicle incident” earlier on Wednesday.
Officials told Global News two people in a westbound vehicle were killed.
Two vehicles were seen engulfed in flames on Highway 1 west of Revelstoke, stopping the travel of summer holiday traffic.
“Two off-duty Calgary Police Service officers, along with a BC Sheriff, witnessed the collision occur, and sprang into action to pull three victims from one of the vehicles prior to it being fully engulfed in flames”, Revelstoke RCMP Sgt. Chris Dodds said in a statement. “It was an absolute display of bravery by these career first responders.”
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B.C. Emergency Health Services said they received a call at around 12:35 p.m. on Wednesday, and three ground ambulances and one air ambulance responded to the incident near Three Valley Gap.
Paramedics cared for five patients and transported three to hospital.
Witnesses told Global News bodies were pulled from the wreckage.
Revelstoke Fire Services put out the fire, and an RCMP collision analyst and BC Coroners Services also attended the scene.
Drive BC said the highway between Griffin Lake and Three Valley Lake has been closed and no detour is available.
The highway reopened Wednesday evening.
RCMP are asking anyone with information or video of the incident to call the Revelstoke detachment at 250-837-5255 or to contact Crime Stoppers.
–With files from Paula Tran, Global News.