VIDEO: Fatal Saskatoon Boychuk Drive overpass crash leaves 27-year-old man dead

Highway 16 east and westbound lanes were set to reopen in the early afternoon at Boychuk Drive overpass in Saskatoon on Sunday after Saskatoon Police Service investigated an early morning overpass crash.

The Saskatoon Fire Department said in a news release at 2:30 a.m. that the crash was fatal after a single vehicle struck the overpass and burst into flames.

Soot from the vehicle fire covered parts of the Boychuk overpass at Highway 16 after the fatal Aug. 9 crash. (Roman Hayter/650 CKOM)

Firefighters said the vehicle was fully consumed by fire when they arrived at the scene.

Saskatoon Police Service later said a 27-year-old Saskatoon man died in the crash and he was driving a pickup. Police said his family had been notified and his name would not be released.

The fire department said crews performed a search of the area for anyone else involved but found no one.

The City of Saskatoon said in a news release that detours put in place that required all vehicles to use the exit ramps to continue eastbound and westbound on Highway 16 would be removed and the road reopened by 1 p.m.

Northbound and southbound traffic on Boychuk Drive has not been impacted, the city said.

The city also noted that the damage to the overpass was not significant, and it remains safe for operation.

“Minor damage has been identified, and the specific scope and timing of repairs will be determined and incorporated into the Bridge Preservation Program,” the city said in a statement.

Highway 16 in Saskatoon at Boychuk overpass was being checked before a scheduled reopening at 1 p.m. (Roman Hayter/650 CKOM)

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–with files from 650 CKOM’s Roman Hayter