Washington state residents killed in highway crash near Campbell River

Two people from Washington State are dead and threeothers are in hospital after a head-on crash along Highway 19 near Campbell River, B.C., on Sunday.

RCMP said the vehicle from Washington state was travelling north on Highway 19, north of Campbell River, when it was hit by an oncoming pickup truck around 5:40 p.m. PT.

A statement said the truck had crossed the centre line on a right-hand curve.

A man and a woman from Washington, both in their 50s, died on scene. Three others involved in the crashwere taken to hospital in critical condition, astatement said.

The highway was shut down for several hours as RCMP investigated the crash. Collision analysts attended the scene.

"At this timeour thoughts are with the families involved in this collision," RCMPConst.MauryTyre wrote in a statement late Sunday.

The B.C. Coroner's Service is also investigating.

Highway 19is the main north-south road on Vancouver Island, linking Nanaimo andPort Hardy.