UPDATE 6:45 p.m.- Mounties say the Coquihalla between Hope and Merritt has reopened after this afternoon’s police incident.
“The incident that caused police to require the highway closure has come to a conclusion and we thank all motorists for their patience,” Sgt. Chris Manseau, said.
“The investigation into the need for the closure remains active and ongoing, and the public can anticipate seeing a marked increase in police vehicles in the area.”
Manseau says there will be no further updates this evening, though the Mounties are “committed to releasing a more fulsome update” tomorrow.
RCMP say anyone with dash-camera video who was near the area of the Juliet Bridge, near the Coquihalla Summit, between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. yesterday, should reach out to the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.
ORIGINAL – RCMP, DriveBC, as well as callers to Radio NL, have confirmed the Mounties have shut down the Coquihalla Highway due to a police incident.
“An active an unfolding police incident has currently closed Coquihalla BC Highway 5 north of Hope B.C., and south of Merritt B.C.,” said BC RCMP. “No public or commercial vehicle are being allowed passage at this time. The public should anticipate delays and plan alternative routes for the next few hours while this incident unfolds.”
The Mounties go on to say that a large number of policing resources from surrounding areas are being sent to the area of Juliet Bridge, just south of Merritt near the Coquihalla summit.
“Any public in the area are asked to avoid that area, and refrain from posting any police actions online.”
Notification of Coquihalla closure/via DriveBC
The RCMP are unwilling at this point to say what the nature of the situation is.
However, DriveBC does appear to have unconfirmed reports of police searching for armed suspects.
Hi Sirene, the @RCMP have closed the highway to conduct a search for armed suspects.
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) November 23, 2022
However, callers relaying information to Radio NL suggest police at the front lines near Larson Hill on the Coquihalla do have their guns drawn, with reports of a possible vehicle chase heading north toward Merritt from Hope.
