Alcohol and speed are being blamed for a five-car crash that shut down the Trans-Canada Highway in North Vancouver for several hours on Canada Day.

The crash started after a speeding 2013 grey Porsche 911 made an unsafe lane change and collided with a Toyota Camry eastbound near Lonsdale Avenue around 8 p.m., according to RCMP Traffic Services.

The initial incident set off a chain reaction crash involving three other vehicles: The Camry was struck by a Toyota pickup truck after it spun around, and the Porsche then struck a Mazda SUV.

That Mazda in turn collided with a concrete highway barrier that ended up in eastbound traffic. That barrier was hit by an approaching Acura sedan.

The driver of the Porsche was arrested for impaired driving and the RCMP are forwarding charges of refusing to provide a blood sample to Crown counsel.

“This is another example of extremely high-risk driving behaviour that puts the lives of all road users at risk,” Cpl. Rhonda Rempel of BC RCMP Traffic Services said in a statement.

All five vehicles were towed and the Porsche was impounded.

The driver and passengers of the luxury car and Mazda were taken to hospital and have since been released.

The name of the Porsche driver will not be released unless charges are laid.