VANCOUVER -- A 20-year-old driver and two others were taken to hospital Wednesday afternoon after a stunt driving attempt led to a serious collision, West Vancouver police say.
Const. Kevin Goodmurphy said officers were called to a crash on Cypress Bowl Road near the District of West Vancouver Works Yard at about 3 p.m. the previous day.
When they arrived, officers found two vehicles with extensive damage: a 2018 BMW 440i sedan and a Mercedes GLC300.
Three people that were involved were all in the BMW, police said, and their investigation found the driver had been travelling with his friends along Cypress Bowl Road.
The driver, who only had a Class 7 learner's licence, allegedly reached speeds twice the limit in a 60 km/h zone and, "had attempted to 'drift' through a hairpin turn," Goodmurphy said.
Police said the driver immediately lost control, skidded across oncoming lanes of traffic, hit a rock face, then collided with the Mercedes, which was parked and unoccupied. Officers estimate the damage is more than $50,000.
Witnesses called for help and the driver and two passengers were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Luckily, no one was seriously injured,” Const. said. “It’s a miracle nobody was seriously injured.”
The driver was given a $368 violation ticket for driving without due care and attention.
“He’d actually borrowed the car from a friend of his,” Goodmurphy said. “He wasn’t the registered owner. So he’ll have some explaining to do, I’m sure.”
Goodmurphy said speed is always a concern on the winding stretch of road, and with the return of nicer weather, police are reminding drivers to slow down and take it seriously.
