VANCOUVER – RCMP are warning motorists against driving on the Trans-Canada Highway through B.C.’s Fraser Valley, where blizzard conditions are sending cars sliding off the road.
Visibility is extremely poor along Highway 1, east of 232 Street in Langley through to Chilliwack, so police have instructed tow companies only to remove certain vehicles, said Sgt. Peter Thiessen.
That means some motorists will likely become struck until the weather improves, he said.
“They’re going to find themselves stranded for a period of time, tow trucks aren’t able to deal with them and they’re going to find themselves in some fairly precarious situations,” he said on Monday afternoon. “That’s why we needed to take that step and encourage the public to stay off of that stretch of the road.”
Thiessen could only describe the number of cars getting into scrapes as “significant” and couldn’t say whether anyone is injured.
Towing companies have been asked to only respond to cars blocking the flow of traffic, while snow clearing trucks attempt to catch up with the snow that’s falling faster than it can be dispatched.
Motorists in a bind should expect to sit tight, Thiessen said.
“They should be certainly calling for assistance if they can, certainly don’t be wandering on the travel portion of the highway and if there’s someone that’s able and has the appropriate vehicle in that kind of weather, that might be a solution,” he said.
“But unfortunately they’ll be left waiting there for a period of time.”
Snow began falling in the region during the Monday morning commute, and Environment Canada forecasts around 20 cm of snow will fall by the time it tapers off on Tuesday.
A snowfall warning was also in effect in Vancouver, which was expected to get a rare dusting of between five and 10 cm by the morning.
Local news from metronews.ca/vancouver
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