Abbotsford Police Const. Ian MacDonald was prepared for the worst when he called a hospital to get an update on the condition of a 46-year-old woman who was run over by a dump truck on Wednesday at approximately 3:30 p.m.
She was airlifted to hospital in critical condition, but MacDonald learned she had improved considerably by Thursday morning.
"To my surprise – and I'm really happy to report – she's in stable condition," said the APD spokesman.
The police investigation has revealed that the truck, which had just dropped a load at a construction site on Marshall Road just south of the Clearbrook interchange, backed into the traffic control flag person. It knocked her over, and the rear tire actually rolled onto her body.
Other drivers and people at the construction site on Marshall Road honked and waved to get the driver's attention. He stopped, and got out of his vehicle to see what had happened. His truck tire still had the woman pinned to the ground.
"Essentially, the dump truck was parked on her," said MacDonald.
The driver got back in his vehicle and moved the truck.
The woman has suffered multiple lower body fractures, and was to undergo surgery on Thursday to address those injuries and assess internal damage and bleeding.
MacDonald said the preliminary finding is that the woman was concentrating on the traffic in front of her, and was not aware of the truck backing toward her. The truck driver could not see her.
The APD traffic reconstruction team is working on the file, Worksafe B.C. has its own investigation, and the Commercial Vehicle Inspection branch is also involved.
MacDonald said it is still too early to determine whether any charges will be laid against the driver.
He said the APD victim's assistance team will be working with about 12 people who witnessed the accident, including the dump truck driver.