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UPDATE: 6 a.m.

The highway was reopened about 9:45 p.m., DriveBC reports.

UPDATE: 7:28 p.m.

Highway 5 is expected to remain closed for several hours. Motorists are advised to check with Drive BC for updates on the status of the highway closure.

UPDATE: 6:56 p.m.

Seven people have been taken to hospital after a transport truck crashed into numerous vehicles on the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia's Interior.

The major artery between B.C.'s Interior and the southern coast was cut off southbound while ambulances and emergency vehicles rushed to the scene Friday afternoon.

BC Emergency Health Services sent a tweet saying one person was airlifted in serious condition and six other patients in stable condition were transported by ambulance.

Spokeswoman Preet Grewal says two air ambulances and 10 ground ambulances responded to the crash near Box Canyon around 2:30 p.m.

RCMP spokeswoman Const. Melissa Wutke was unable to say how many vehicles were involved, but police anticipate it will take some time for the route to re-open.

Witness Norm Draeger says it appears that a semi-truck lost its brakes and barrelled down the hill in the southbound lanes, hitting as many as two dozen vehicles. He says vehicles had been stopped on the highway because of construction.

"There was wrecked vehicles all over, people all over the road. It was just a mess," Draeger says.

The provincial government says Highway 5 southbound is closed at the Box Canyon chain-up area and alternate routes are available via Highway 8 and Highway 97C. The next update is expected at 7:30 p.m.

UPDATE: 4:25 p.m.

Witnesses say dozens of vehicles were in the way of a transport truck that appeared to lose its brakes on the Coquihalla Highway in British Columbia's Interior.

The major artery southbound between B.C.'s Interior and the south coast has been cut off while ambulances and emergency vehicles rush to the scene.

The number of injuries is unclear, although B.C. Emergency Health Services says numerous crews are responding to a multi-patient accident on the highway.

RCMP spokeswoman Const. Melissa Wutke didn't have specific details of the crash, but says officers from the Fraser Valley traffic unit were responding.

"At this time, the RCMP is unable to confirm information such as the number of vehicles involved or injuries," she says. "Our priority is first to assist any injured, and ensure emergency health services can get access to those individuals and get them to hospital."

"Due to the number of vehicles involved, we anticipate it will take some time to re-open the Highway, and drivers northbound may also be impacted."

Witness Norm Draeger says it appears that a semi-truck lost its brakes and barrelled down the hill in the southbound lanes and hit as many as two dozen vehicles.

Courtney Starheim was travelling in the opposite direction of the crash and says they could smell the brakes of the truck and those inside the vehicle commented on it.

Drive BC says Highway 5 southbound is closed at the Box Canyon chain-up area and alternate routes are available via Highway 8 and Highway 97C.

UPDATE: 3:55 p.m.

It appears as if the Coquihalla Highway could be closed southbound between Merritt and Hope, for some time.

According to radio station CKNW, the brakes failed on a semi trailer, causing it to crash into more than 20 vehicles.

More than 40 people have been injured.

Damage is apparently strewn over about a kilometre of the highway.

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Southbound traffic has come to a halt on the Coquihalla Highway.

A multi-vehicle crash has forced closure of the Highway 5 at Box Canyon chain-up area.

Reports indicate as many as seven vehicles may be involved.

DriveBC indicates alternate routes are available via Highways 8 and 97C.

An estimated time of reopening has not been determined.

More details if they become available.

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