A driver in Abbotsford has died after he left his crashed vehicle on Highway 1 and was struck by a snowplow.
When police arrived, they found a 31-year-old man suffering from life-threatening injuries, and he was rushed to the hospital. Abbotsford police confirmed the driver died a “short while ago” at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.
Abbotsford police said the driver’s vehicle spun out on the freeway and he was walking on the side of the Parallel Road when he was struck by the plow around 6:15 a.m., near North Parallel Road and Fooks Road.
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“We’ve had a series of vehicles in the Fraser Valley here end up in ditches,” Sgt. Paul Walker with Abbotsford police told Global News. “People get out of those cars and walk down roads and we’re considering that as a factor in this case. Obviously the snow and icy conditions are impacting the roadways, often making it challenging for pedestrians to be on the shoulder of the road.”
Impairment is not believed to be a factor, police said, but the snow and inclement weather likely were.
The driver of the plow remained at the scene and police said the plow was being driven by a contractor.
Anyone with information, including video footage, is asked to contact Abbotsford police at 604-859-5225.