A 15 year old Vernon boy was killed in a two vehicle accident on Hwy 1 on the Sackum Bridge between Spences Bridge and Lytton.
Traffic Services assisted Lytton RCMP and the Lytton Fire Dept. who responded to the collision between an SUV and a transport truck hauling formaldehyde at approximately 11:30 am on Friday, Feb 21.
Investigators determined that the southbound SUV, driven by the victim’s mother, a 44 year old Vernon woman, was attempting to pass another vehicle on the bridge. She was attempting to pull back into her own lane, but struck a barrier and bounced back into the oncoming lane where the transport truck collided with them. The boy was deceased on the scene; the driver was airlifted to Kamloops hospital with what was thought to be non life-threatening injuries.
The highway was closed in both directions for most of the day as Lytton firefighters tried to douse burning formaldehyde leaking from the truck, which hindered recovery efforts. The highway was open to one lane alternating traffic the following day as the vehicles were removed.
The driver of the truck, a 60 year old man from Kenton, Ohio, was not injured.
The matter is still under investigation.