Faulty semi-truck taken out of service after speeding through Merritt construction zone

A semi-truck was taken out of service after its driver sped through a construction zone near Exit 286 in Merritt.

BC Highway Patrol says a fully loaded auto transport truck was clocked going 109 km/h in a 60 km/h construction zone on Highway 5 at Highway 97C at around 9:40 a.m. on July 31.

In a news release issued Monday (Aug. 17), police say the officer turned on his lights and sirens, although the truck went through the entire four-kilometre construction zone before stopping. Highway Patrol inspected the truck once they suspected a mechanical issue was a factor.

According to Highway Patrol, the tractor and trailer both failed safety inspections. The vehicles being towed on the auto trailer were unloaded at the scene before the semi-truck was taken out of service. The registered owner of the semi, a company out of Surrey, is responsible for paying the costs of the tow and the seven-day impound.

The driver, a 53-year-old man from Calgary, was fined $1,449 in total for infractions such as:

• excessive speeding (between 41 to 60 km/h over the speed limit)
• failure to comply with trip inspection requirements
• failure to have pneumatic/adequate tires in good condition
• failure to verify acuracy of certified record of duty status
• improper brake performance
• numerous inoperable yellow marker lamps

“We are watching commercial trucks everywhere in B.C., but residents in the Thompson Nicola Region have told us they want even more focus than usual,” BC Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael McLaughlin states. “There’s an expectation that commercial truck drivers will be as committed to road safety as anyone else, and police are committed to upholding that standard.”

According to DriveBC, bridge construction work on Highway 5 from Exit 286 to Exit 290 in Merritt is taking place until Oct. 31, 2026. Drivers are asked to watch for signage and traffic control.