VANCOUVER — A North Delta street race came to a fiery and fatal end late Monday night when a vehicle fleeing police missed a curve, broke through a metal guard rail and dropped several metres into a ravine, where it burst into flames.
One person was killed, another was on life support and a third is facing criminal charges.
The incident began just before 11 p.m. when Delta police spotted two vehicles street racing in the 9000-block of Scott Road.
Officers pulled over one vehicle, and the second turned onto Nordel Way and sped off. A Delta police news release said the vehicle was travelling at "a very high rate of speed."
As the vehicle continued west on Nordel Way, it struck a third automobile. The driver of the racing vehicle then lost control and ended up in the ravine.
A passenger became trapped inside and died at the scene. DNA and dental records are being used to identify the victim.
The driver, a 38-year-old man, was ejected and is on life support in Royal Columbian Hospital.
The 30-year-old male driver of the automobile that was pulled over by police is facing charges of "impaired driving, driving [with blood alcohol content] over .08, and dangerous driving," according to the release.
Calls to Delta police for further details were not returned.
Geoff Heide, who lives across from the ravine, told reporters: "We just heard a loud bang and somebody yelling, screaming, 'my head, my head.' And then we saw flames in the ravine."
Staff Sergeant Ted Emanuels of RCMP E Division traffic services said that while officers have made strides in cracking down on organized street racing over the years, there are still races that happen merely by chance.
"What we're left with is two people on the road and one decides his car is better than the other. They either accelerate down the road, or leave a stop sign together, or just decide 'I'm going to get there before he does.' Somebody runs out of control, and you get a tragic consequence."
Staff Sgt. Emanuels said no city in B.C. is used more for street racing than another, although he acknowledged that officers don't track such incidents specifically. They are instead designated as driving without due care and attention, excessive speeding or something similar.
He said RCMP traffic services isn't sitting back and allowing street racers free rein.
"In the past two years, we've purchased 12 covert vehicles that are out on the road to deal specifically with aggressive drivers, and you won't be able to tell them apart from the soccer moms or the drug dealers," he said.
Nordel Way remained closed for the morning rush hour. It reopened just after 10 a.m.
