2 separate crashes close Trans-Canada Highway in same spot

First responders from West Vancouver and North Vancouver were called to the same stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway twice in one night, after separate crashes.

The first crash happened a little after 6 p.m. Saturday, when an eastbound motorist struck the right-side barrier at the west end of the bridge over the Capilano River, right on the boundary of North Vancouver and West Vancouver.

• Pedestrian struck on Trans-Canada Highway near Vancouver
• Trans-Canada Highway crash in Chilliwack kills 1
• Vancouver man walks away from bad highway crash in Langley

That crash didn't lead to any serious injuries, but it took a few hours to clear.

Assistant Chief Jeff Bush with West Vancouver Fire and Rescue said the second incident happened just after 11 p.m., about 45 metres from the location of the first.

An Acura sedan struck the concrete barriers multiple times on the bridge.

"The reports are that this vehicle spun four times. There was one injury, two occupants here," said Bush. "There's no damage to the roof, examining the vehicle, it didn't appear there was any rollover of any kind."

The injured man was able to walk over to a stretcher. Paramedics with the B.C. Ambulance Service took him to hospital in stable condition. 

"In both instances, the drivers were very lucky," said Bush. "It could have been worse and there could have been serious injuries, but fortunately there wasn't in this case."

The two crashes inspired a tweet by the West Vancouver Police department.

Bush said, despite a corner, the section of highway affected by the two crashes isn't unsafe.

"It's no more dangerous than any other stretch of road. It's just with the wet conditions we've had, we're just encouraging drivers to slow down when approaching a corner such as this."