A tragic hit-and-run that killed a husband and wife in Coquitlam Wednesday afternoon is sparking concerns over the safety of elderly drivers behind the wheel.

Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said Thursday he was "floored" by the incident. The victims, a 66-year-old woman and a 76-year-old man identified by neighbours and family as Marta and Juan Rosales. were struck by a grey truck as it turned left onto Austin Avenue from Gatensbury Street at around 3:30 p.m.

Both died at the scene.

“This was a tragedy in so many ways," Stewart told CTV News. "A tragedy for the driver as well. We need to be really careful when we’re maneuvering two-tonne vehicles through our streets.”

About an hour after the couple was struck, police surrounded a truck matching the suspect vehicle description outside a Coquitlam home and arrested a 90-year-old man friends identified as World War II veteran Eugene Muirhead.

No charges have been laid, but Moutnies confirmed the truck was seized Thursday as part of their investigation.

Investigators are trying to figure out what led to the collision and why the driver left the scene. The tragedy has some questioning whether more needs to be done to ensure drivers' and pedestrians' safety.

"We're an aging society. I want our residents to be able to get around as well as possible, as long as they’re safely able to do so,” Stewart said. “So there ought to perhaps be an evaluation of the system that defines that level of safety, to make sure our community is safe and our pedestrians feel safe.

Families mourn

Relatives of the victims gathered at the crash site Thursday to remember them. Juan Rosales was a pastor, and his son said their faith is helping them cope with the tragedy.

“We know that they are with Jesus and we have to hold on to him, too. And one day we are going to see them in glory,” their son Francisco Rosales told CTV News.

Even in their grief, the family said they are prepared to forgive the driver responsible.

“It’s terrible what happened,” said Sara Rosales, the victims’ daughter-in-law, “but we only [hope] that one day he knows the lord too.”

Coquitlam resident Keri Watkins said she is a friend of Muirhead's, and couldn't imagine the war veteran fleeing the scene of an accident.

"There's no way he ever would've intentionally left the scene of something like this," she said. "He's a good, good man. He's a good father, he's a war veteran, he's a well-respected person in the community."

Fellow veteran Murray Mandley said Muirehead, who was one of the founding members of the Legion on Ridgeway Avenue, is another victim in the tragedy.

“We are just devastated by this. There’s no explanation for it. Totally out of character for Gene,” Mandley said.

“We can’t forget the two victims … but this is the third victim.”

Cpl. Jamie Chung said Coquitlam RCMP fortunately haven't seen many crashes similar to the one that claimed two lives yesterday, but ultimately, it's not up to police who is allowed behind the wheel.

"Whether a driver is fit to drive, it's not up to the police, it's up to their driver and it's up to ICBC," he said.

Wittness accounts of crash

Witnesses described the terrible aftermath of the crash just moments after Marta and Juan Rosales were struck.

Their bodies could be seen covered by blankets just east of a marked crosswalk. Witnesses told CTV News the driver stopped shortly, but then took off.

"I heard screaming, so I came running over," Logan Lew said. "I saw a grey truck on the curb and the two people laying on the ground, and then the truck went over and it stopped. This guy on a motorcycle went up to the truck, and the truck just drove away up the street."

The motorcyclist followed the truck to a house a few blocks away, which was surrounded by Mounties shortly after.

Investigators are still piecing together exactly what happened, but do not believe drugs, alcohol or speed were a factor in the crash.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to call Coquitlam RCMP at 604-945-1550 and quote file number 2013-34951, or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

With files from CTV British Columbia’s Scott Roberts and Jon Woodward