The driver of a car that crashed in the Sumas River in Abbotsford on Thursday afternoon died in hospital this morning (Saturday).
Bryan Volden, 65, was surrounded by his loved ones, including his wife Solveig and his two daughters who grew up in Abbotsford: Rebecca Del Pozo, who now lives in Seattle, and Tiffany Waardenburg, who resides in Calgary.
Volden was leaving McDonald Park – at the end of No. 3 Road north of Highway 1 – when his 2002 PT Cruiser veered off the roadway. He hit some wooden posts, careened across the parking lot and landed in the river.
Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald said Volden "may have suffered from medical distress," triggering the accident.
The car was more than halfway submerged in the water. A 45-year-old man on the scene smashed a window in the vehicle, pulled Volden to safety, and performed CPR until emergency responders appeared on the scene.
Volden's family would like to meet the Good Samaritan, and Abbotsford Police are trying to arrange a get-together.
"My family wants to thank the gentleman who risked his own life to pull my dad out of the water. We are just so grateful," Waardenburg said.
Rebecca Del Pozo said her dad has a history of health problems. He has had heart attacks and open-heart surgery in the past, she said.
Waardenburg said her dad, who is retired, often took long drives or stopped for coffee by himself or with friends. She said he also liked the outdoors and had possibly stopped at McDonald Park after picking up a coffee.
Volden and his wife owned and operated the Towers Cafe in McCallum Medical Tower until September 2009. Before that, they owned Muffin Break on Bourquin Crescent.
A memorial will be held Saturday, March 26 at 1 p.m. at Abbotsford Pentecostal Assembly, 3145 Gladwin Rd.
