A New West senior is in critical condition after a scooter and car collision on Sunday night.
The collision occurred at the intersection of Sixth Street and Sixth Avenue just after 9 p.m. on April 25. A 69-year-old New Westminster woman who was on the scooter was taken to hospital with “fairly significant” injuries.
“She is in critical but stable condition,” said Sgt. Sanjay Kumar, spokesperson for the New Westminster Police Department.
Portions of Sixth Street were closed for hours so police could investigate. Pieces of the woman’s scooter were scattered on the road.
“A vehicle that was travelling southbound on Sixth Street made contact with the female and, unfortunately, she suffered some pretty serious injuries,” Kumar said. “She was crossing Sixth Avenue, either going east to west or west to east – we are still trying to figure that out. The vehicle was coming southbound on Sixth Street.”
Kumar said police are still trying to determine what was happening in the moments leading up to the incident.
“I can tell you that speed, alcohol and drugs weren’t an issue for sure. But again, we are just trying to determine what happened in the moments leading up to it,” he said. “We don’t have an indication yet of what colour the lights were, who had the right of way.”
Kumar said police are trying to gather some CCTV footage in the area and dash-cam footage from anyone who might have been passing by.
“There were a couple of witnesses that saw what happened; obviously, quite traumatized by what they saw,” he told the Record. “We are just sifting through their statements as well.”
According to Kumar, the driver is cooperating with police.
“He remained on scene,” he said. “Obviously, he is quite upset and distraught by this as well.”
The Vancouver Police Department’s Collision Analyst Reconstruction Team (CART) is assisting with the investigation.
“They had their CART members out last night to essentially do the calculations and to try and find out what speed the vehicles were going and any other environmental factors that played a role in this,” Kumar explained.
Kumar said evidence from the scene, witness accounts, and CCTV and dash-cam footage will paint a pretty clear picture of what happened once it’s all pieced together.
“We are still appealing to anyone that witnessed this or has dash-cam footage to please talk to us,” he said. “Every little bit helps in piecing this together.”
Anyone who has dash-cam footage or who witnessed this collision can contact the New Westminster Police Department at 604-525-5411.
Witnesses who are in need of support can call the Victim Assistance Unit 24 hours a day at 604-529-2525 or email VAU@nwpolice.org.
Follow Theresa McManus on Twitter @TheresaMcManus
Email tmcmanus@newwestrecord.ca
