Driver dies in tanker truck fire

Columbia Valley Pioneer Staff

RCMP are reporting that the driver of a tanker truck died at the scene of a fire July 19 on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park.

“I can tell you there was one deceased from a single vehicle motor incident involving a tanker truck,” said Cpl. Jeff Witzke of the Columbia Valley RCMP. “The tanker did catch fire, however, the fire was contained to the ditch area.”

Media relations officer Cpl. Madonna Saunderson added the truck was fully engulfed in flames. “Police and fire crews attended the scene and sadly, the driver, an adult man, was deceased at the scene,” she said. “Causal factors have yet to be determined, however, police can confirm that there were no other vehicles involved.”

Saunderson reported the highway was closed during the initial investigation but has since reopened to all traffic.

Mark Rievaj, who witnessed the fire, said it occurred just past the BC border crossing into Kootenay National Park. “Looked like a westbound fuel truck went into the ditch . . . I saw smoke in the distance but it turned black as I got closer.”

Rievaj told the Pioneer that the fire was localized to the road and ditch. “The road was burning as well. There were cars pulled over but most cars proceeded past it slowly.”

Rievaj said he subsequently saw two police vehicles heading to the scene and was not aware the driver had died.