Traffic Alert: Westbound lanes of Hwy 1 in Burnaby closed after crash

A multi-vehicle crash along Highway 1 in Burnaby partially shut down traffic Tuesday morning.

The westbound lanes between Gaglardi Way and Kensington Avenue are expected to be closed for several hours, disrupting morning commutes.

Burnaby RCMP say the crash happened just before 3 a.m. east of the Kensington Avenue exit.

Investigators say five vehicles were involved.

Video footage shows a car and a taxi badly destroyed and debris strewn across the road.

“Five people were transported to the hospital, three with minor injuries and two in serious condition,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj of Burnaby RCMP said in a news release Tuesday morning.

All westbound lanes of Highway 1 were immediately closed so the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service could investigate.

“Although the investigation is still in its early stages, impairment is not believed to be a contributing factor at this time,” Kalanj said.

However, he told CTV News there are early indications that weather and possibly even speed could play a role, as there was water on the road at the time of the crash.

The westbound lanes of the highway are expected to be closed for the rest of the morning and possibly into the afternoon.

“Police are advising commuters to plan an alternative route this morning. If they can work from home or delay the start of their workday, we encourage them to do so,” Kanlanj wrote.