By Chetan
Highway 99 was closed in both directions north of Squamish after a serious crash near Mount Garibaldi sent three people to hospital and caused major traffic backups along the Sea-to-Sky corridor.
The closure was put in place between Alice Lake Road and Daisy Lake Road, with drivers being asked to avoid the area and expect significant delays between Squamish and Whistler as emergency crews worked at the scene.
The crash happened on one of British Columbia’s busiest and most important travel routes, quickly turning a normal day of traffic into a long standstill for many motorists. Vehicles were seen backed up along the highway as the full closure remained in effect, leaving commuters, residents and Whistler-bound travellers stuck with few options.
B.C. Emergency Health Services said it received a call about the crash at around 3:30 p.m. and dispatched two ground ambulances and one air ambulance to the area. Paramedics treated three patients at the scene before taking all three to hospital. One person was reported to be in serious condition, while the other two were in stable condition.
Squamish Fire Rescue said in a social media update that crews were trying to clear the scene and reopen the highway, with air support also involved in the response. The presence of both ground crews and air support pointed to the seriousness of the incident and the complexity of the operation underway north of Squamish.
DriveBC said there was no estimated time for reopening, adding to uncertainty for drivers already caught in growing congestion along the route. Officials warned travellers to be prepared for major delays as traffic continued to build between Squamish and Whistler.
Images from the scene showed the scale of the collision. A white sedan with heavy damage could be seen stopped on the highway beside a dark van that also appeared to have sustained significant damage. The two wrecked vehicles were positioned near a rocky cliff, while emergency crews worked nearby and long lines of traffic stretched behind them.
Other photos shared from the area showed a long line of stopped vehicles surrounded by mountains and trees, underscoring how quickly the highway shutdown had turned into a wider travel disruption. Some motorists also posted online about lengthy waits and long lines of vehicles backed up along the route.
Major delays hit key Sea-to-Sky route
Highway 99 is a critical link between Squamish and Whistler, carrying daily commuter traffic as well as tourists, commercial vehicles and weekend travellers. A full closure on this road can have an immediate ripple effect across the region, especially when alternate route options are limited.
That is exactly what unfolded after the crash near Mount Garibaldi. With both directions closed and no reopening timeline available, traffic backed up rapidly and travellers were left watching for updates as emergency responders focused on the crash scene.
For many drivers, the biggest frustration was not just the closure itself but the uncertainty around how long it would last. With no estimated reopening time, people heading north or south through the Sea-to-Sky corridor had little choice but to wait, turn around or delay their trips altogether.
The incident also served as another reminder of how quickly conditions can change on mountain highways. Even on routes known for stunning views, a serious crash can bring everything to a halt in minutes. In this case, what began as an afternoon emergency quickly became a major disruption for one of British Columbia’s most heavily travelled highways.
Authorities had not released further details on the cause of the crash at the time of the latest update, and CBC News said it had reached out to RCMP for more information. Until more details emerge, the focus remains on the condition of the three injured people, the work of emergency crews at the site and the eventual reopening of the highway.
For now, drivers travelling through the corridor are being urged to avoid the area, check traffic updates before leaving and prepare for significant delays. For the people caught in the backup, it has been a tense and frustrating stretch. For the injured and the emergency crews responding on the scene, the situation is far more serious.
As cleanup and response efforts continue, Highway 99 remains the center of a developing traffic and emergency story north of Squamish, with travellers waiting for one thing above all else: word that the road is safe and moving again.
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