An already accident-filled long weekend on the roads in Metro Vancouver turned fatal early Sunday morning, when a three-car collision at a busy Surrey intersection left two people dead and a third in hospital in critical condition.
Surrey RCMP said a Toyota 4-Runner was turning left off of 88th Avenue onto 152nd Street shortly before 12:30 a.m. Sunday, when it was struck by a Hyundai travelling the opposite direction on 88th. The Hyundai then glanced off of the 4-Runner and collided with a third vehicle.
One person died at the scene, and another succumbed to their injuries after being transported to hospital.
Three other people were transported by ambulance from the scene. One is in in critical condition, and the other two are in serious but stable condition, police said.
The identities of the victims have not been released.
Neighbours say the intersection is a dangerous one, where accidents are not uncommon.
“I see lots of cars slamming the brakes on and stuff like that,” said Gurlal Bhaddi, who lives nearby.
Bhaddi was visibly shaken after seeing the damage to the vehicles - and surmising that someone had died - while on his morning walk.
Neighbour Sam Yu was using his computer when the accident occurred. He said he heard the screeching of brakes and a crunch.
“I felt my room shake,” he said. “When my dad came out, he found that one of the wheels bursted out and hit one of our fences.”
Anyone who witnessed the collision, or saw the vehicles involved before the incident, is asked to call Surrey RCMP at 604-599-0502.
The incident resulted in the first fatalities on Metro Vancouver roads over the Victoria Day long weekend, but it was far from the first serious crash.
Earlier Saturday night, a two-car collision on Lynn Valley Road at Peters Road in North Vancouver caused one of the vehicles to roll over, sending two people to hospital. Crews had to use the jaws of life to extract the driver of the overturned car.
And on Saturday morning, a dark-coloured Chrysler sedan hit a light pole at 60th Avenue and King George Boulevard in Surrey. The pole fell and crushed the roof of the vehicle, which attempted to flee the scene anyway.
The Chrysler hit another car and then took off, and witnesses reported seeing the car spraying sparks and possibly missing a front tire.
Surrey RCMP later found the car and took the driver into custody. Police suspect the driver may have been intoxicated at the time of the incident.
