This story has been amended since first posting to correct an error in the initial statement from police that identified the crash site as the Fern Street overpass when in fact the incident occurred at the Main Street overpass.
North Vancouver RCMP say impaired driving was likely behind a massive transport truck crash that closed Highway 1 for more than six hours Friday, choking off access to the North Shore and slowing traffic to a standstill through Burnaby and downtown during the morning rush.
The highway has since been reopened and the crash remains under investigation but police have confirmed that around 4 a.m., the driver of a transport truck was travelling westbound on Highway 1 just north of the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing when he drifted into the support column of the Main Street overpass.
The driver, a 47-year-old Surrey man, was taken to hospital but received only minor injuries. While on the scene, investigators had grounds to believe the man was impaired, according to Sgt. Peter DeVries, North Vancouver RCMP spokesman. As the investigation continued, they learned the man was already under a driving prohibition, although DeVries could not release any details.
“That investigation is ongoing, but I can say that an arrest has been made,” DeVries said.
It took crews until 9:45 a.m. to get the highway reopened. Because of the impact on the overpass support structure, engineers had to be called in to assess whether it was safe to reopen.
DeVries could not say what the truck was carrying but the crash did result in a large spill of diesel fuel, requiring extra loads of sand to be brought in to absorb the mess.
