A vehicle collision on Highway 1 east of Sicamous Tuesday afternoon resulted in the double fatality of a senior couple from Salmon Arm.

At 2 p.m. on April 15, Sicamous RCMP, BC Ambulance and the Malakwa Fire Department responded to a two-vehicle collision at the intersection of Malakwa Road and Trans Canada, where there is a four-lane divided section of highway accessible from the side road. 

The investigation determined that the driver of a Suzuki SUV had tried to cross the westbound lanes of the highway from Malakwa Road in order to turn left and head east. 

"The driver failed to yield to a westbound semi truck towing a trailer which resulted in a collision in the westbound lanes of the TCH," Sgt. Murray McNeil said in a media release. "The driver of the SUV, a 76-year-old resident of Salmon Arm and his 73-year-old spouse died as a result of the collision."

The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured in the crash, and eastbound traffic on the highway was rerouted to a frontage road for approximately two hours before reopening. McNeil added that road conditions were clear and dry at the time of the collision.