Police have identified the victims of Thursday's fatal crash south of Hixon as two women from Smithers
The names of the women, who were 64 years old and 61 years, have been withheld at the request of their families, Quesnel RCMP spokesperson Cst. Krista Vrolyk reported in a press release.
"What happened on Thursday was a tragic event," Vrolyk said. "We just want to remind people to drive cautiously in winter conditions."
The crash happened shortly after 10 a.m. on Highway 97 near Ahbau Creek, approximately 25 km south of Hixon.
According to police, a northbound b-train truck lost control and crashed into a southbound SUV - the two women from Smithers were the only two people in the SUV and were killed immediately.
The b-train driver suffered minor injuries, Vrolyk wrote. He was taken to GR Baker Hospital in Quesnel, treated and released.
The truck and trailers have been towed off-scene for a mechanical inspection by Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement investigators.
RCMP, commercial safety investigators and police collision analysts had Highway 97 closed for over four hours while investigating the scene.
Road conditions were icy at the time of the crash, Vrolyk wrote. No charges have been laid in the collision and alcohol is not believed to be a factor.
