Afghan refugees die in road accident in British Columbia

Prime Minister David Eby offers condolences to the families of Afghan refugees who died in a car crash on Highway 5 near Clearwater, British Columbia .

Three members of a newly arrived family from Afghanistan died in a multi-vehicle traffic accident on Wednesday in British Columbia.

According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), a Ford F150 truck crossed the center line of the Highway 5 near Clearwater, located over 120 km north of Kamloops. The motorist collided with a pickup truck towing a trailer, then collided with the vehicle whose occupants included refugees recently landed in the country.

Three people from this last vehicle lost their lives, while two others were seriously injured.

Police said road conditions were not a factor in the crash. The RCMP is continuing its investigation to understand the causes and circumstances of the event.

Premier David Eby and provincial Minister of Transportation Rob Fleming have spoken deeply saddened to hear the news and offered their condolences to the family and friends of those involved.