Fatal Accident Closes RW Bruhn Bridge on Trans-Canada Highway
A fatal accident on the RW Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous on Saturday left one person dead and closed the 60-year-old bridge for much of the day. The incident, which involved a semi-truck, is under investigation by authorities.
At approximately 6:51 a.m., local residents reported hearing two or three loud bangs. Shortly after, debris from the semi's cargo and a diesel sheen were visible on the water below the bridge.
According to initial reports, the westbound semi-truck struck a barrier at the bridge's west end, causing significant damage. The truck continued, breaking through the south side railing about halfway across the bridge, and plunged approximately 10 meters into the Sicamous Channel, sinking to the bottom.
It is believed that the semi was the only vehicle involved in the incident, and the driver was the sole occupant.
A boat from the Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, stationed nearby, was unable to locate any survivors.
Following the crash, concerns were raised about the structural integrity of the bridge, both for vehicle traffic and for boaters passing under it. The Ministry of Transportation conducted an assessment and reopened the bridge to traffic at a reduced speed after several hours. The gap in the railing was temporarily patched.
On Sunday, the RCMP Southeast Dive Team, along with the Sicamous Fire Department, RCMP, Search and Rescue, BC Ambulance, the BC Coroners Service, and Royal Canadian Marine Search and Rescue, worked to recover the submerged semi-truck and the deceased driver. The recovery operation involved large tow trucks and more than half a dozen agencies, and the truck was slowly pulled from the water.
For more information on plans to replace the RW Bruhn Bridge, visit the BC Government's project page.
According to ICBC data from 2019 to 2023, there was one crash on the RW Bruhn Bridge in 2021. The stretch of Highway 1 through Sicamous has seen 247 crashes during this period, with 73 involving injury (Contains information licensed under ICBC's Open Data Licence).
Fatal Accident Sicamous Bruhn Bridge
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