A single vehicle collision took place about 5:19 a.m. Thursday on the east side of the Yellowhead Bridge in the City.

The RCMP's Operational Communications Centre began receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls advising that a single vehicle traveling west bound on Highway 16 had gone over the embankment just before the bridge.

The BC Ambulance Service, Prince George Fire / Rescue and the Prince George RCMP attended the scene.

A single male occupant was located in the vehicle with his seat belt on. He was removed and transported by the BC Ambulance Service to the University Hospital of Northern BC in critical condition.

An extensive search of the area was conducted to ensure there were no other occupants in the vehicle. None were located and investigators are confident the driver was the only occupant.

The driver was identified as a 16 year old, unlicenced, Prince George resident.

The vehicle, a Hyundai Accent, was registered to a family member.

An RCMP collision reconstructionist attended the scene to gather evidence and determine the cause of the collision.

It appears the vehicle went off road right and over a cement barrier just before the bridge. The vehicle rolled down the steep embankment, settling more than 100 metres from where it went off the highway.

Speed and alcohol likely contributed to the collision.

The driver remains in hospital with life threatening injuries.

The west bound lanes on Highway 16 were closed while investigators gathered evidence from the scene.

If you have any information about this collision, please contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)561-3300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-TIPS (8477), online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca, or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES (274637) using keyword "pgtips".