UPDATE 1:15 p.m. – RCMP say two of the three people killed on Highway 5 near Clearwater Wednesday morning were refugees who were new to Canada.

While RCMP did not say where they were from, Premier David Eby told a news conference in Vancouver that they were from Afghanistan, and offered condolences to their friends and family.

“This is a new arrival family from Afghanistan, so the layers of tragedy are profound for British Columbians, for them, for their friends, for the people who care about them, and for all of us,” he said. “Our thoughts go out to them, the family members in hospital right now.”

“Very tragic news and British Columbians are thinking of you and wish you the best in this incredibly tragic and terrible circumstance.”

RCMP Inspector Chad Badry says multiple first responders were called to the 3300-block of Highway 5 just before 11 a.m. Wednesday.

He says the initial investigation determined that a southbound Ford F-150 pickup truck from Alberta crossed over the centre median and side-swiped a Ford F-550 truck that was towing a trailer before colliding head on with a Ford Escape SUV.

“Three occupants of the Ford Escape were determined to be deceased at the scene,” Badry said, noting road conditions were not a factor in this crash. “Two others in the same vehicle sustained serious injuries and were transported to hospital.”

“The driver of the Ford F-550 was not injured and the driver of the Ford F-150 was not seriously injured, but was transported to hospital.”

Badry says the driver of the F-150 is cooperating as they police investigate why the vehicle crossed over the centre median.

Highway 5 was closed for about eight hours after the crash, with Drive BC reporting it opened just after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact BC Highway Patrol Kamloops at 250-828-3111.