13 injured in multi

13 injured in multi-vehicle crash along Highway 99 in Surrey

Stretch of highway was closed just after 5:30 p.m. PT and reopened just after 9:30 p.m., DriveBC says

Highway 99 in South Surrey, B.C., was closed throughout Friday evening just east of the Highway 99 and Highway 91 interchange due to a multi-vehicle crash that injured over a dozen people.

DriveBC said the southbound stretch between the Highway 91 overpass and the King George Boulevard on-ramp was closed just after 5:30 p.m. PT, with one northbound lane open initially but later closed to traffic.

The stretch was eventually reopened to all traffic around 9:30 p.m. PT.

In a statement sent just before 8:40 p.m. PT, B.C. Emergency Health Services said paramedics provided emergency care to 13 patients in the crash.

"Two patients were transported to hospital in serious but stable condition, including one by air ambulance," a spokesperson wrote.

"Eleven other patients were transported to hospital in stable condition."

A crash involving a semi-trailer and a transit bus, in addition to other vehicles, closed the critical Highway 99 stretch near the Surrey-Delta border on Friday night. (Shane MacKichan)

In a statement, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said the crash involved a semi-trailer, bus and other vehicles.

"The number and type of vehicles are unknown and I do not have information on the type of bus and whether it is carrying any passengers," read the statement from SPS Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton.

"The investigation and cause of the collision is in its early stages; however, it appears that the collision occurred following the semi-truck and trailer crossing into the southbound lanes," he added in an update sent after 9:30 p.m. PT.

⛔#BCHwy99 Closed southbound due to vehicle incident south of #BCHwy91 #DeltaBC. Northbound getting by on shoulder. Expect delays due to major congestion. https://t.co/7x1jbwGuUv #SurreyBC #SouthSurrey https://t.co/26Itibb1zm

DriveBC had said motorists in the area should expect delays due to major congestion on a busy Friday night.

CBC News reached out to TransLink, but a spokesperson deferred comment to the B.C. Highway Patrol.

The crash led to long lineups along the Surrey-Delta border on Friday night, with a number of first responders in attendance. (Shane MacKichan)

With files from Meera Bains and Akshay Kulkarni