A three-car head-on collision on the Tsawwassen Ferry Causeway has sent one person to hospital with serious injuries Monday.
Delta police say the crash took place on Hihway 17 around 9 a.m. on the eastern end of the causeway, near Tsatsu Shores. An air ambulance was sent to the scene and ferry passengers say vessels at the terminal are not unloading due to the crash.
Traffic in the area in both directions was severely backed up for hours as an investigation into the collision was underway. Highway 17 reopened at around 2:45 p.m.
Some are questioning why today's crash scene investigation near @BCFerries is taking a number of hours. Please keep in mind that a person was seriously injured in this collision, and investigators have only one chance to fully examine the collision scene, before releasing it.
— Delta Police Traffic Unit (@DPDTraffic) January 13, 2020
Last runs of the @MainroadLM truck are now finished up. @TranBC #bchwy17 now reopened all lanes. @BCFerries will have more info on resulting ferries delays. @deltapolice are clear. @TransLink pic.twitter.com/l2HOe3D6Um
— Delta Police Traffic Unit (@DPDTraffic) January 13, 2020
BC Ferries says the crash has caused delays for passengers. As of 2:40 p.m., the Spirit of Vancouver Island from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay was 95 minutes behind schedule due to the delays.
Then the Coastal Renaissance’s 11 a.m. sailing leaving Tsawwassen and the 1 p.m. leaving Swartz Bay were cancelled due to a staffing issue after the crash, BC Ferries said. An additional sailing was added at 12 p.m. from Swartz Bay and 2 p.m. from Tsawwassen.
Traffic is flowing east, allowing for ferries to offload. But traffic west into the terminal is down to one lane and is facing severe delays.
The incident adds to more drama for passengers in the last 24 hours.
Due to a windstorm, ferries on all three major routes were cancelled Sunday evening— stranding passengers until Monday morning.
“We certainly apologize. It’s unfortunate with the weather and serious motor vehicle incident,” said B.C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall.
On Monday morning, there were multiple sailing waits due to the backlog.
READ MORE: Ferries on all three major routes cancelled Sunday night
Julian Kolsut
