Several parts of B.C. got a white Christmas on Tuesday, but those driving on the Malahat Highway on Vancouver Island faced a winter nightmare as the snowy conditions caused multiple collisions.
Traffic was bumper-to-bumper as snow piled up on the Malahat, and thick layers of ice could be seen covering areas that plows were unable to clear.
The highway was also shut down for several hours because of accidents. In one incident, a truck lost control, hit a car and ended up in a ditch. In total, eight people from several accidents were sent to hospital.
Police are urging people, particularly those who are not prepared for the treacherous road conditions, to stay home.
“We passed no less than 10 vehicles, stuck, that could not gain traction, could not make the hill,” said Cpl. Mike Holmes with West Shore RCMP. “They’re impeding traffic, impeding snow plows because they don't have winter tires, they don't have chains.”
Some areas, like Duncan received about eight centimetres of snow. In the Lower Mainland, snow flurries also fell in parts of the Fraser Valley, including Abbotsford and Mission.
With files from CTV British Columbia’s Nafeesa Karim
