Trans-Canada Highway crash near Field, B.C. claims Calgarian

A 37-year-old man from Calgary is dead following a Friday evening crash in Yoho National Park.

According to RCMP, the head-on collision occurred shortly after 7:00 p.m., at a location approximately three kilometres east of the town of Field, British Columbia.

“At this time we believe that the eastbound vehicle failed to negotiate a curve striking on oncoming westbound vehicle.” said Constable Spencer Lainchbury of the Golden-Field RCMP detachment.

A passenger in the westbound vehicle, a 37-year-old man from Calgary, was pronounced dead at the crash scene. The victim’s identity has not been released.

The driver of the vehicle, a 32-year-old man from Calgary, was assessed by paramedics. The extent of his injuries did not require additional treatment.

A 33-year-old man believed to be from the Salmon Arm, B.C. area was behind the wheel of the eastbound vehicle. The man suffered serious injuries in the crash and was airlifted to a hospital in Calgary by a STARS Air Ambulance crew.

According to Cst. Lainchbury, the driver of the eastbound vehicle is expected to survive and will likely face a charge of Impaired Driving Causing Death. Alcohol and speed are believed to have contributed to the crash.

The Trans-Canada Highway was closed between Lake Louise and Golden, B.C., for several hours following the collision but has reopened.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact the RCMP East Kootenay Traffic Services Unit at [phone].