A fatal collision on the Coquihalla Highway north of Merritt Monday morning has claimed the life of one driver and shut down northbound traffic as investigators continue to examine the crash.

According to the Merritt RCMP, officers received a report at approximately 8:08 a.m. of a small car travelling the wrong way on the Coquihalla Highway near Comstock Road.

Just five minutes later, police were notified that the vehicle had been involved in a head-on collision with a transport van in the northbound lanes of the highway.

Frontline officers, along with members of BC Highway Patrol, BC Emergency Health Services and local fire crews, responded to the scene.

Police say the driver and sole occupant of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of the deceased has not been released.

The occupants of the transport van suffered non-life-threatening injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment.

Investigators say initial witness reports indicate the car was travelling southbound in the northbound lanes at a high rate of speed before the collision occurred.

The northbound lanes of the Coquihalla Highway remained closed Monday as investigators worked at the scene. The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is assisting with traffic management, and the roadway will reopen once it is deemed safe.

RCMP are asking anyone who was travelling in the area around the time of the collision and may have dash camera footage to contact the Merritt RCMP at 250-378-4262.