A police investigation into a head-on crash that left a B.C. family dead has determined who crossed over into oncoming traffic.
Just before 3:30 a.m. on July 9, a tractor trailer and a red vehicle collided on Lougheed Highway.
Police say the driver of the westbound red vehicle entered oncoming traffic "for some time" before both drivers "made last-second efforts to avoid a collision."
Fatigue may have played a key role in the collision, says Agassiz RCMP Sgt. Andy Lot.
Officers who responded to the scene found the driver and passenger, a married couple from Deroche, deceased.
Lot previously told Glacier Media how one of the officers saw something moving in the back of the vehicle and discovered it was an infant. The girl, under two years old, was airlifted to hospital, but she died a few hours later.
The driver of the tractor trailer, who suffered emotional injuries and did not suffer any physical injuries, has been offered support from the RCMP Victim Services Team.
“I encourage all motorists who are experiencing fatigue to pull over in a safe place and rest,” says Lot.
The investigation is still ongoing.
"I would like to thank my officers and all the first responders who attended to this tragic incident for their hard work and dedication for this investigation,” says Lot.
Glacier Media has learned the deceased couple worked as a health-care worker and first responder in B.C. The man was a father, husband and a volunteer with the North Fraser Fire Department. The woman was a mother, wife and a nurse within the Fraser Health Authority.
A total of 51 people died in motor vehicle incidents in the province during the month of July, making it the deadliest July in the last two decades in B.C.
The BC Coroners Service confirms the number of deaths was higher than what's typical during the summer months.
