A 60-year-old Chilliwack man was the victim of a fatal three-vehicle crash in South Langley on Wednesday evening, RCMP have announced.
The victim, driving a 2004 Chevrolet Cavalier, was heading east on 16th Avenue following a dump truck at about 5:15 p.m. on May 31.
Just after crossing 200th Street, both those vehicles slowed and stopped because of traffic congestion ahead of them, caused by an earlier crash, said Cpl. Craig Van Herk, spokesperson for the Langley RCMP.
A second dump truck did not stop in time and smashed into the Cavalier, crushing the smaller car. The driver of the car was declared dead at the scene, while neither truck driver was injured. Both drivers stayed at the scene and cooperated with police investigators.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and there will be no determination on charges or tickets until the investigation is complete.
“The investigation will determine that,” said Van Herk.
READ MORE: VIDEO: One dead in three vehicle crash in South Langley
He said all three vehicles have been towed and are in police custody.
“All of them will be subject to a full inspection, and that will form part of the investigation,” said Van Herk.
Police kept 16th Avenue closed between 200th Street and 208th Street closed until around midnight on Wednesday, as officers from the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) the Langley RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team (CCIT), the Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement branch (CVSE) and the BC Coroner Service began coordinating their investigation.
The slowdown that led to the crash was caused by a different three-vehicle collision that had taken place just 15 minutes earlier, said Van Herk.
At 5 p.m. in the 20400 block of 16th Avenue, an eastbound mini-van crossed the center line, sideswiped a pickup truck, and then hit an SUV head on.
Fortunately, none of the drivers in that crash were injured. The driver of the mini-van was given a ticket.
Van Herk said Langley RCMP schedule traffic enforcement operations on 16th Avenue four times a month, in addition to more time spent ticketing speeders based on complaints from residents and drivers.
However, the busy road has long been known for high speeds, a large volume of trucks, and lethal crashes.
In addition to crashes on the road, some drivers have plunged off the street into nearby yards and ditches over the years.
Langley Township has added street lights at several points in an attempt to moderate speeds and improve safety, as well as by creating pull-out bays where RCMP cruisers could be parked to conduct speed enforcement with radar guns.
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