6 people rushed to hospital, 2 by air ambulance in fiery crash on B.C.'s Coquihalla highway

Six peoplehave been rushed to hospital, including two in critical condition, after a fiery multi-vehicle crash on the CoquihallaHighway Friday morning.

Witnesses tell CBC newsa semi-trailer heading northcrossed both lanes of Highway 5 near Larson Hill, just before 11 a.m.

A pickup truck hit the cab of the semi. Asmall passenger car then hit the back of the pickup truck's flatdeckand caught fire, according to an eyewitness. At least one other vehicle added to the pileup, the witness said.

B.C. Emergency Health Services says two air ambulances were dispatched to the scene, along with fiveparamedic ground crews.

BCEHS says paramedicstransported six patients from the scene. It says two people were airlifted to hospital in critical condition. Four others were taken to hospital with serious injuries by ground ambulance.

Fire crews and police are also attending.

Heavy snow hadbeen falling on thehighway throughout the morning with drivers describing conditions asslushy and sloppy.

Highway crew rescues trapped woman as fire spread

Tom Agar, the area manager responsible for the Coquihalla highway for B.C's Ministry of transport says maintenance crews were among the first to respond,finding a woman trapped in her car, as fire spread among the piled up vehicles.

"The semi hadstarted on fire and we got her vehicle towed out of there as she was pinned inside the vehicle," he told CBCRadio West host Sarah Penton.

"Everything else was burned out except the [woman's] vehicle we pulled out. So I'm thankful our crews and staff were out here for that, else she probably wouldn't be with us today."

The Coquihalla Highway was closed in both directions near Merritt, B.C., as the emergency response and accident investigationcontinued.

Drive B.Csays the southbound lane is now open andthe rest of the highway is expected to be fully reopened later tonight. It says to expect major delays and that alternatives routes are available.