A British Columbia trucking company has had its licence suspended by the province after one of its semi-trailer trucks slammed into a Highway 99 overpass in Delta.
Transport Minister Rob Fleming says it's the sixth such crash involving Chohan Freight Forwarders Ltd. in the past two years.
Fleming says the Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement branch has suspended the firm's safety certificate, putting its entire fleet of 65 trucks off the road as of 4:30 p.m. Friday.
Transport Ministry communications manager Rob Duffus says an initial assessment appears to show "significant damage" to the 112 Street overpass.
The crash just after noon on Thursday shut down both lanes of Highway 99 as well as the overpass.
B.C. Emergency Health Services says one person was taken to hospital by ambulance in stable condition.
It's the latest in a rash of overpass collisions that prompted the province to unveil harsher penalties for companies and drivers with repeat offences earlier this month.
"This suspension is a result of the company's unwillingness or inability to operate safely within the province, following its sixth infrastructure crash in two years," said Fleming in a statement.
He added that both the driver and the carrier would face "the toughest fines in the country" and the outcome of the investigation could lead to more action.
""This needs to stop. We know that the vast majority of commercial drivers in B.C. operate safely and responsibly. However, some operators are not getting the message," said Fleming.
Chohan Freight Forwarders did not immediately respond to an email and could not be reached by phone.
Duffus said the suspension of the firm's licence to operate in B.C., pending the outcome of the investigation, "will likely cost the company tens of thousands of dollars."
Global News video footage of the scene showed what looked like a construction girder embedded in the overpass, while photos shared on social media showed others on the bed of a truck and lying across the highway.
Delta Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Dave Wood said the crash also caused a "secondary accident" involving another vehicle, and crews were called to the scene at 12:14 p.m.
Duffus said overpass crashes had a "huge impact: they delay commuters, affect the movement of goods and can impede first responders.
"This means families, businesses and the economy all suffer."
On Dec. 14, fines for over-height vehicles were increased to $575, up from $115.
The new rules also include the requirement for dump-style vehicles to have in-cab warning devices by next June, telling drivers if their trailer hasn't been lowered.
But Duffus said with CVSE’s new enforcement framework, suspensions could cost the carrier far more in business than the amount of the ticket, pending the results of the investigation.
Provincial statistics say as many as 30 bridge strikes have happened on British Columbia's highways since 2021, with 16 of them reported last year alone.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 28, 2023.
Nono Shen, The Canadian Press
