Crash involving semi-truck, bus and other vehicles closes Highway 99 in Surrey, B.C.
Police say a crash involving a semi-truck and trailer, a bus and several other vehicles has closed Highway 99 in both directions in Surrey, B.C.
Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton says in an email that the number and types of vehicles involved in the crash have not been confirmed and he did not have information on the type of bus or whether it was carrying any passengers at the time.
Houghton says firefighters and paramedics were at the scene, but he couldn't confirm whether anyone has been seriously injured in the crash.
He says parts of the highway would likely be closed for several hours and police would issue any further significant updates later Friday or on Saturday.
The DriveBC website shows the route is closed between the Highway 91 interchange and King George Boulevard in south Surrey.
The driver information service says drivers should expect major delays, with no estimated timeline for the highway's reopening.
BC Emergency Health Services did not immediately respond to a request for details about its response to the crash Friday evening.
TransLink, Metro Vancouver's transit operator, directed a question about whether one of its buses was involved in the crash to B.C. Highway Patrol, while the Mounties referred a request back to the Surrey Police Service.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
Feds confirm funding for rare disease research as other questions unanswered
The federal government confirmed at a meeting of Canadian health ministers that it is extending a funding deal on rare disease research, while wider questions on health-care funding remain unanswered.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel told her provincial and territorial counterparts that the $500 million in annual funding for the National Strategy for Drugs for Rare Diseases that was set to expire next year will now be funded on an ongoing basis.
The minister said she also reached an agreement on next steps in talks to deal with other funding issues, including minimum increases for the Canada Health Transfer and the long-term fate of other bilateral agreements.
Michel confirmed late Wednesday that the federal government would extend by one year $1.2 billion in annual funding for mental health, addictions and home care.
She said Friday that the one-year extension on funding that was set to expire in March was to help bridge provinces to the new fall budget schedule.
Michel says she and her regional counterparts agreed they would have another meeting before the end of this year to talk about longer-term funding plans.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
By Ian Bickis | Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.
B.C. man arrested, charged in 2022 double homicide in Metro Vancouver
A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with two homicides in Burnaby, B.C., three years ago.
Investigators say Mohammed Arif Ansari was arrested Friday, and two counts of second-degree murder and one count of indignity to human remains have been approved against him.
Burnaby RCMP found the bodies of 31-year-old Kiesha Garie and 30-year-old Umair Kasim inside a vehicle on Alpha Avenue on Oct. 17, 2022.
Police say the homicides were targeted, and that the victims and the accused knew each other.
No further details on the case were released.
Police had previously said that the victims were a couple from Coquitlam, B.C., that had been reported missing before being found dead.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 16, 2026.
Copyright 2026, The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.