Knight Street Bridge closed in both directions after semi-truck rollover

Knight Street Bridge is closed after a semi-truck rollover today. (Vancouver Fire Rescue / Twitter)

UPDATE:

A single northbound lane on the bridge has now reopened to traffic, but crews are warning commuters that traffic is still extremely heavy.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Commuters who regularly use the Knight Street Bridge to travel between Vancouver and Richmond will have to find a different route this afternoon, as the bridge is currently closed to traffic in both directions following a semi-truck rollover.

Vancouver Fire Rescue tweeted that one person had been extricated from the vehicle, but that the bridge is shut down to traffic to give hazardous material crews (hazmat) teams a chance to respond and check for any dangerous spilled fluids.

Single patient has been extricated from rolled over truck by #vfrsheavyrescue Technicians and @BC_EHS Knight Bridge closed in both directions by @VancouverPD and #richmond @rcmpgrcpolice #vfrs Hazmat Team responding for spilled fluids #vanhazmat pic.twitter.com/mLiKOsqZv2

— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) July 12, 2018

There’s no word on this point on exactly what caused the crash, or when the bridge will be reopened to traffic, but hazmat crews have now arrived on scene.

#vfrs Hazardous Materials Team has arrived at #KnightStBridge rollover to assess and mitigate spilled fluids + remaining diesel. Bridge will remain closed both directions until further notice. #vanhazmat @VancouverPD @rcmpgrcpolice pic.twitter.com/2ZekyDS3rt

— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) July 12, 2018

It’s been a generally messy afternoon in the South Vancouver neighbourhood, as prior to the truck rollover, fire crews had already been called to a blaze at Knight Street and 63 Avenue resulting in lane closures.

Crews are attacking an outdoor fire 63rd/Knight St., traffic affected, lanes closed for hoselines. #vanworkingfire pic.twitter.com/dSGeaCBH3a

— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) July 12, 2018

The fire was put out, but traffic was already affected, as crews responded to the unrelated rollover incident, first closing the southbound lanes, before eventually closing the bridge completely.

#vanworkingfire 63rd/Knight has been struck out, single unit awaiting Fire Investigator. Traffic southbound HEAVILY affected, Knight closed to traffic due to vehicle rollover

— Vancouver Fire (@VanFireRescue) July 12, 2018

More to come…