KOOTENAY NATIONAL PARK – Police continue to investigate a double fatality from a head-on collision in Kootenay National Park last week.
Cpl. James Grandy, a spokesperson for B.C. RCMP, said RCMP along with the BC Coroner are continuing to investigate the incident, which occurred on the two-lane stretch of Highway 93 South between Dolly Varden and Settlers Road about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday (June 29).
"Both occupants of the car were pronounced dead," said Grandy.
"The reason the on-coming car veered into the on-coming lane is unknown at this time."
Police initially said there were several people suffering life-threatening injuries.
The STARS-1 crew and air ambulance helicopter from Calgary were dispatched and transported one person.
"After landing on the highway, our crews cared for and transported a female patient in her 30s to Foothills Medical Centre where she arrived in stable condition," said Deborah Tetley, a spokesperson for STARS air ambulance.
The highway was closed for several hours before reopening to alternating traffic.
Earlier in the afternoon, vehicles were being stopped and backed up at the Trans-Canada Highway near Castle Mountain.
Highway 93 South was the scene of a fatal accident earlier this year involving a semi-trailer and a car. That accident happened just after 2 a.m. Feb. 2 near Hector Gorge between Kootenay Crossing warden station and the Simpson River trail, about 46 kilometres north of Radium Hot Springs.
In Kootenay National Park, new mitigation measures have been put in place over the past year, including the installation of new speed readers to notify traffic of their actual speed at select locations and additional lights on recommended speed signs to increase awareness.
Enhanced patrols and enforcement along Highway 93 South are happening.
Cell phone coverage is not available in Kootenay National Park, however, there are emergency satellite phones at Marble Canyon, Kootenay Crossing Operations Centre, Simpson River trailhead and Kootenay River day-use area.
