After the documents were signed we got back in the car and went through the Peace Arch crossing. The news reported a horrific accident at the border. We just missed this!
The news report:
One person is dead and another is in hospital following a fiery, two-vehicle collision at the Peace Arch border crossing in Surrey Thursday morning.
The accident, which involved a Porsche Cayenne SUV and a Toyota Sienna van, happened around 11:30 a.m. just north of the Canada/U.S. border.
Vancouver musician Dan Mangan and his wife witnessed the accident as they waited to cross the border en route to a performance in Seattle.
According to Mangan, the Porsche hit the van at full speed, pushing it nearly 200 feet and sending both vehicles off the road. Then the van suddenly caught fire.
“As they impact into this sort of manicured, landscaped area, the van that was the recipient of the crash just bursts into flames,” said Mangan. “20 foot flames. Plumes of dark black smoke coming out of it.”
Mangan said the flames were so intense that it was impossible to determine who was inside the burning van, but that other witnesses to the incident were able to reach the driver of the SUV.
“People were running toward the car apprehensively, because they were worried about it exploding, yelling, ‘get out of the car, get out of the car,’” Mangan said. “A couple real heroes that were closer to it (…) were able to pull the driver out.
“He was in the driver’s seat, he hadn’t moved, they pull him out, he comes to, and I think realizes what had just happened,” Mangan said.
Mangan said the rescued driver appeared distraught, gesturing to the burning vehicle as it became apparent that its occupant would not escape the blaze.
“Whoever was in that van was toast,” said a shaken Mangan. He and the other border crossers could only watch and wait for emergency crews as the vehicle continued to burn.
“There was a good 10 minutes or so where we were just sort of watching this tragedy unfold, and everybody was out of their cars,” he said. “You could see parents walking their toddlers away so the kids wouldn’t see it.”
 |
| This picture is from the Drive BC web cam. You can see the time and also exactly where the accident happened. |
The border was closed northbound for hours. It's on the Canadian side so the RCMP is investigating. The speed is 30 KMH and it appears the car was travelling at an excessive speed. They don't know if he was trying to run the border or had a health emergency.
As the van exploded with high flames, it makes you wonder if the vehicle had jerry gas containers in it. We've see many people who have five or six jerry cans, filling them up at the Blaine gas station. When we were at the border security seminar, I asked what the law in Canada was. Apparently as long as the jerry cans are in approved containers and properly stored, it's legal. I hope they review this as people aren't getting gas for their lawn mowers, but additional gas for their vehicles. We've often commented they would be in serious trouble if there was a rear end accident.
As the van exploded with high flames, it makes you wonder if the vehicle had jerry gas containers in it. We've see many people who have five or six jerry cans, filling them up at the Blaine gas station. When we were at the border security seminar, I asked what the law in Canada was. Apparently as long as the jerry cans are in approved containers and properly stored, it's legal. I hope they review this as people aren't getting gas for their lawn mowers, but additional gas for their vehicles. We've often commented they would be in serious trouble if there was a rear end accident.
We had a nice lunch at C-Lovers in South Surrey! Janice and Jim miss the C-Lovers that was formerly in their neighbourhood. I'm so happy they've been so successful in getting a great price and selling very quickly!
