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UPDATE: Driver hits van full of kids in Aldergrove

Abbotsford driver grabs 12-pack of beer from car and heads to restaurant on broken leg.
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Accident investigators were at the scene of a serious multi-vehicle crash in Langley Tuesday.

A 32-year-old Abbotsford man who drove his car through a red light and hit a mini-van full of young children was witnessed crawling out of his mangled car afterwards, walking over to a fast food restaurant, with a 12-pack of beer under his arm, to order a burger and call a taxi on Tuesday.

Langley RCMP confirm alcohol and speed were factors when the white Nissan sports car the Abbotsford man was driving hit the van at a high rate of speed at the intersection of 264 Street and 56 Avenue, north of Highway 1, around 5:30 p.m.

Surrey Leader reporter Evan Seal said he was at the McDonald’s when he heard the loud bang of the crash and smoke coming from the intersection.

“You could hear the kids screaming and crying. There were already people there helping. The woman driving was on the ground seizuring,” said Seal.

While many witnesses were helping the kids and woman in the van, Seal watched the driver of the sports car crawl out his vehicle, through the T-bar roof, and start collecting his belongings into a plastic bag.

He then went back to his car, grabbed a 12-pack of beer and walked over to the fast food restaurant. Seal followed him.

The driver was limping from a compound fracture to his leg. He was later taken to hospital with broken bones, said police.

“He ordered himself a meal and called himself a taxi,” said Seal.

Witnesses said the driver appeared extremely impaired and seemed oblivious to the fact that a bone was sticking out of his leg.

The children in the van were checked out and are believed to be all OK. The woman driver of the van was taken to hospital. She was treated for minor injuries and released.

Another witness to the crash said he was making the exit to 264 Street just prior to the crash when the white Nissan passed him on the shoulder, travelling at speeds of up to 200 km/hr.

Just making the curve, the vehicle then ran the light and hit the van. The witness said the impact was so hard, that the van was hit twice.

Witnesses to the crash sent the taxi away. By then, Township firefighters were on scene and stayed with the bleeding man until police arrived.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene and will be investigated by police.

Witnesses who haven’t yet spoken to police are asked to  call Langley RCMP at 604-532-3200.

Traffic over the 264 Street overpass that crosses the Trans-Canada Highway was limited to one lane of southbound vehicles for several hours while police investigated.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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