Driver dies after semi-truck crashes through bridge, plunges into B.C. lake

A semi-trailer truck fell 18 meters off a highway bridge into a lake near Sicamous, B.C., about 100 kilometers east of Kamloops. Officials reported on Sunday afternoon that both the driver's remains and the vehicle's wreckage have been recovered.

According to Sicamous RCMP, they responded to the incident around 6:45 a.m. PT on Saturday, with a press release issued at 2:45 p.m. PT. Police believe the driver was the sole occupant of the truck.

Sicamous Mayor Colleen Anderson and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (CSRD) have expressed their condolences to the driver's family and friends. "It's tragic, and our thoughts are with them right now," Anderson stated.

The driver's identity has not been publicly released.

The Bruhn Bridge, which carries Highway 1, was closed in both directions for most of Saturday. It was reopened in the afternoon under controlled conditions with a reduced speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour, according to DriveBC. "It's a major transportation route," Anderson said. "Our goods and service supplies go down [Highway] 1, so it's imperative that we get that open and moving."

The CSRD noted that repairs on the bridge will commence on Monday, following a report from the RCMP that indicated the bridge deck suffered "significant damage." Prior to the accident, there were plans to replace the over-60-year-old Bruhn Bridge with a new structure capable of supporting four lanes. The province's project website states construction is expected to begin this fall.

Mayor Anderson told CBC News on Sunday that she "doesn't see any changes" to the replacement plan due to the crash but emphasized the importance of repairing the current bridge since the new one will take approximately three years to complete. "I think it's still full steam ahead," she said. "It's a project that needs to move forward."

Tracy Hughes, the CSRD's communications coordinator, informed CBC News that the truck fell into the Mara Lake side of the bridge, in an area locally known as the Sicamous Channel, where Mara Lake and Shuswap Lake meet.

The Ministry of Environment is assessing the impact of the diesel spill from the truck and working on cleanup measures, according to the CSRD. Interior Health has been notified about the spill, but there appears to be no significant risk to the area's drinking water supplies. The truck's cargo also does not pose any public health hazard, according to the district.

The CSRD and Anderson have asked the public to continue avoiding the area on Sunday.