Vancouver police closed down a major inspection due to a fatal collision early Thursday (June 22) morning that claimed the life of a 28-year-old man.
The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) tweeted that it was investigating a "serious collision" at the intersection of West Georgia and Burrard streets just after 5 a.m.
Social media officer Jason Doucette added in a retweet that "access to W Georgia and Burrard Street is closed from one block out in each direction" and drivers should adjust their routes accordingly.
Police say that a blue Honda Accord was travelling east when it stopped at a red light at West Georgia and Burrard streets at around 3 a.m. "when the driver of a white Plymouth Voyager drove into the back of" it," according to a news release.
"The van caught fire and the driver had to be extracted from the vehicle. The driver and one passenger in the Honda were seriously injured and taken to hospital. A second passenger in the Honda died on scene," say police.
While the investigation is ongoing, police believe speed and impaired driving contributed to the crash.
The 34-year-old suspect, who was driving the van, was taken to hospital for serious injuries.
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) received a call at 3:10 a.m. about the motor vehicle incident and responded with six ambulances, a spokesperson told V.I.A.
"Paramedics cared for and transported three patients to hospital. Two of the patients were in critical condition," they said.
TransLink also posted numerous rider alerts for bus detours on routes affected by the collision, including the 250, 257, 240, 246, and 44.
Anyone with information, or anyone with dash-cam video of the Plymouth driving on West Georgia Street prior to the collision, is asked to contact VPD’s Collision Investigation Unit at 604-717-3012.
