Residents of a quiet South Surrey neighbourhood say they’re shocked no one was killed in a collision Monday that ended with two vehicles mangled in a ditch, one of them upside-down.
“I can’t believe they walked away from that car,” Lynn Brandt said as she surveyed the aftermath.
Emergency crews raced to the 13600-block of 28 Avenue around noon. According to one witness, the crash occurred when a westbound Audi struck a Lexus that was turning right.
“She was turning and he just absolutely clipped her,” said the woman, who did not want to be identified.
Both vehicles came to rest in the ditch, sending debris across the roadway and boulevard.
One victim – a 17-year-old passenger – had to be cut from the Audi and was airlifted.
A man who identified himself as the son of the Lexus driver said his mother, 74, suffered “a broken collarbone, for sure.” He said his 16-year-old daughter was not injured.
Other area residents at the scene agreed with the man that speed has long been a concern.
“People drive, like, 120 kilometres down here,” said Jerry Brandt, noting it “was just a matter of time” before a bad collision occurred.
Judy White, a resident since 2004, agreed.
“It was going to happen eventually, the way they speed up and down 136th and 28th,” she said. “They’re just flying.”
An officer at the scene told Brandt that enforcement efforts have indicated at least half of the drivers clocked speeding in the neighbourhood – which has no sidewalks or speed-control measures – are area residents.
Police are looking at speed and weather as possible contributing factors in Monday’s crash.