An Elkford man is dead and a Fernie man in hospital with critical injuries after a head on vehicle collision on Highway 43.
On Sunday, February 23, at approximately 6:10 am, the Elk Valley RCMP and the East Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit responded to a two vehicle head on collision on Highway 43 approximately 11 kilometres south of Elkford.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 42 year-old male was traveling southbound in a Ford Focus lost control on Highway 43 and crossed the centre line into the path of a northbound GMC Tracker driven by a 52 year-old male. The vehicles collided head on. The 42 year-old male from Elkford was pronounced deceased at the scene. The 52 year-old from Fernie was transported to the hospital with critical injuries.
Road conditions at the time were slippery and snow covered. As a result of the collision, Highway 43 was reduced to single lane alternating traffic for several hours. Highway 43 was re-opened at approximately 1:30 pm. The investigation into the collision is ongoing.