Five people died Sunday in a two-vehicle crash on the Pacific Highway in Surrey, B.C. that left a mid-sized car sheared in half and "unrecognizable," police say.

Three adults and two children were killed after the two vehicles collided near the intersection of 176th Street and 32nd Avenue at about 11 a.m. PT.

Sgt. Dale Carr, of Surrey RCMP, said it appeared that a westbound white Dodge Grand Caravan minivan ran a red light and collided with a Toyota Corolla travelling north on 176th Street.

The identities of the victims have not been released.

Three women and two young children from the same family — who own a South Asian sweet shop in Surrey — were killed in the crash, a friend told CBC News.

A man in his mid-40s has been airlifted to Royal Columbian Hospital, where he remains in serious condition. Police said he is likely the driver of the white minivan.

"The import vehicle was completely sheared in half, and is unrecognizable," Carr said.

The force of the crash caused both vehicles to overturn, and a pair of sunglasses to embed in a lamp post, police said.

An eight-block stretch of the Pacific Highway about 3.5 kilometres north of the Washington state portion of the U.S. border was closed in both directions, according to the Ministry of Transportation.

It was to reopen sometime between 10 p.m. PT and 1 a.m. Monday, according to the ministry.

Police earlier said that at least six people had died, but later revised the death toll to five.