A taxi driver in Burnaby is lucky to be alive after their vehicle exploded earlier on New Year’s Day.
Burnaby RCMP posted a photo and details at around 3:29 a.m. of a burned-out taxi that had been hit by the driver of another vehicle.
The taxi then blew up and was engulfed in flames on Kingsway at Gilley Avenue before Burnaby firefighters arrived to put out the blaze.
“Fortunately there were no passengers and the driver escaped,” say RCMP. “A man is in custody and alcohol is suspected.”
The item pictured in the middle of the road is an airbag, sent flying by the explosion, say police.
Burnaby RCMP are trying to tackle impaired drivers through the annual CounterAttack campaign.
“With so many options available for transportation, there really is no excuse to drive impaired,” Cpl. Daniela Panesar said in an RCMP press release in 2019. “Plan for a safe ride home by arranging a designated driver, call a taxi or take transit.”
Traffic Services and other police agencies set up check stops on prime days and times when impaired drivers are most likely to be on the roads and when most impairment-related crashes happen.
Among the officers are drug recognition experts specially trained to assess drivers who might be impaired by drugs – prescription or otherwise.
On average, 68 people die every year in crashes involving impaired drivers in B.C.
More than half of impairment-related crashes occur on the weekend, between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley is among the local officials calling for the carnage to stop.
“In my previous work as a firefighter, I've seen firsthand the devastation that impaired driving can cause,” he said in the release. “I join with our police officers in asking that, if you are impaired, ensure you organize a safe ride home.”
— with files from Cornelia Naylor
