A BC truck driver has died in a fiery crash that closed Highway 97 near Fort St. John for hours on Tuesday and early yesterday.
A statement from RCMP Traffic Services says the unnamed central Interior man, who was in his late 40s, died when his southbound tanker truck veered across the highway, crashed in a ditch and exploded.
It was carrying a full load of crude oil and police say concerns about the toxic fumes and smoke forced the brief evacuation of nearby cars and several homes, but those orders were lifted yesterday.
Mounties from Fort St. John, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement officers, WorkSafeBC, the Ministry of Transportation and the BC Coroners Service continue to investigate the cause of the crash.