Mission RCMP are searching for a suspect after a man was struck and killed by a vehicle in a hit-and-run in Abbotsford on Friday night.
Const. George Teixeira said that police responded to a report of a man lying in the middle of South Parallel Road, near Cole Road.
“Around 8:30 p.m. we located a male who had been struck by a vehicle. The male was announced deceased at the scene,” Teixeira said.
The man was 37 years of age, and his name has not yet been released to the public.
Mission RCMP, handling the file because the fatality occurred on First Nations land in their jurisdiction, said they are looking for a dark vehicle that may have significant damage on the front end. More details were not available at press deadline.
In the hours before the tragedy, the Abbotsford Police had contact with the 37-year-old man twice, said Const. Ian MacDonald in a press release. Patrol officers responded to a complaint from a fast food restaurant in the 34500 block of Delair Road at 6:15 p.m., and a complaint from a driver on Highway 1 near Whatcom Road at 7:15 pm. In both instances, the man was located and identified by APD officers. After brief interactions the man continued on his way.
“The Abbotsford Police Department will be sharing the full details of these interactions with the Mission RCMP and we will continue to support and assist their investigation,” noted MacDonald.
“The Abbotsford Police extend their condolences to the friends and family of this man and encourage anyone with information concerning the fatal hit and run to contact Mission RCMP.”
After a rash of pedestrian deaths last year, Abbotsford Police put additional resources into traffic enforcement over the past year.
MacDonald noted that by this time in 2010 there had been 11 traffic fatalities, where so far in 2011 there have now been four – two involving pedestrians.
“This is still a tragedy,” said MacDonald.
“We definitely have stepped up enforcement, but there’s a buy-in from the public as well,” he added. “When we say things, the community seems to take notice.”
– With files from CTV BC