Dangerous driving – fueled by a business disagreement – led to a roll-over crash and five arrests in South Surrey Saturday.
Police say it’s “a miracle” no one was killed in the road-rage incident. It ended shortly before noon, when a red Ford Expedition came to a rest on its roof in a ditch on the west side of King George Boulevard, near 40 Avenue.
“Playing bumper cars down a major roadway in our city, it’s reckless,” Cpl. Drew Grainger said. “There was huge potential for serious injuries there.”
The incident began shortly after 11 a.m. Oct. 15, at a restaurant near 152 Street and Highway 10, when a disagreement between two parties apparently led to threats. Police say both groups left the area in SUVs, and reports of dangerous driving started coming in soon after.
The first was regarding erratically driven vehicles southbound on King George, near Colebrook Road. Another came from the 48-year-old driver of one of the SUVs, who reported his vehicle was being hit by another SUV.
At the crash site, near the on-ramp to Highway 99, dents could be seen on the sides and rear bumper of a grey Lexus. One passerby said it looked as if the vehicle had been sideswiped.
Grainger said and the driver of the Ford – a 25-year-old Vancouver resident – may face criminal and Motor Vehicle Act charges in connection with the incident. All of the Ford’s occupants were arrested at the scene for uttering threats; both drivers were detained; and, one person was treated for minor injuries.
Grainger said while road rage incidents are not unheard of, most do not escalate to the degree seen Saturday.
“Playing the risky game that they did of physical contact of vehicles, at high rates of speed… is not something that happens often,” he said.
“At the end of the day, driving like that is just inexcusable.”
The roll-over crash was one of two in South Surrey on Saturday.
The second occurred around 1:30 p.m., on 160 Street at 28 Avenue, when a northbound BMW struck an eastbound Chevy Blazer.
The Blazer came to rest on its driver’s side; its 77-year-old driver suffered a broken arm.
Investigation is ongoing, however, police say there is no indication that speed or alcohol played a role in the collision.
Two of the five men arrested at the scene.
Boaz Joseph / The Leader
