Updated: Highway 101 accident in Gibsons cleared up

Updated 6:30 p.m.

A head-on collision between an SUV and a commercial flatbed truck on Highway 101 between Oceanview Drive and Burton Road, just outside of Gibsons, has been cleared up, according to the Gibsons & District Volunteer Fire Department. 

Lt. Michael Cupit confirmed that one patient from the SUV was transported to hospital with undetermined injuries but appeared OK. The flat-bed truck was transporting an excavator and went into the ditch somewhat, so responders had to get a crane truck to lift the excavator out and onto another truck, "so it took a bit of time," said Cupit. Clearing up the incident took at least a couple of hours he said, leading to highway delays as there's no detour around the section of highway. "We tried to get traffic going as soon as we could."

"[The accident] just happened at the worst time," said Cupit, just as school was getting out and as people were trying to get home from work on a Friday afternoon.  

Seven members of the fire department, RCMP and two ambulances responded, said Cupit. 

Cupit added that everyone was lucky. "It could have been way worse."

Updated 6:12 p.m.

The call for the motor vehicle incident came in at 3:06 p.m., according to BC Emergency Health Services. Two ambulances were dispatched and one person was transported to hospital. 

Updated 5 p.m.: 

Southbound traffic on Highway 101 and Lower Road is reportedly moving. 

Original story:

Travellers should expect delays on Highway 101 in Gibsons Friday afternoon. 

An alert from BC Transit notified bus passengers that because of a motor vehicle accident, its Route 90 and 1 buses will be delayed. "Emergency services are at the scene and long delays are expected," said the notice issued at 4:20 p.m.

Social media posts place the incident as having happened near Burton Road. 

Capilano Highways says that the highway is open to single-lane traffic. 

Reports from people in traffic say that southbound traffic on Lower Road is also backed up. 

More information was not immediately available from RCMP or Drive BC.