WATCH: A multi-vehicle crash has put the focus back on the aging and dangerous Pattullo Bridge. John Daly reports.
Cyclist Georgia Atkinson feels lucky to be alive after narrowly escaping serious injury in Thursday’s multi-vehicle crash on the Pattullo Bridge.
Atkinson was riding her bike southbound on the sidewalk when a woman driving northbound over the bridge crossed over the centre line, crashing into several pylons and other vehicles.
“I slammed on my brakes because she was hitting cars as well and they were swerving to avoid her. They were bumping into each other and coming my way in front of me,” said Atkinson.
As she slammed on the brakes, Atkinson ducked to avoid flying over the handlebars.
“I went down as low as I could and a pylon just barely missed my helmet. Another one hit my bike, almost went in the spokes,” she said.
“If I hadn’t been squatting down, it might have knocked me off my bike, it might have knocked me off the bridge.”
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The burgundy Mercury Sable stopped only when it smashed into a divider at the north end of the bridge. The driver was given an immediate 90-day suspension and is currently under investigation for criminal code charges of impaired and dangerous driving.
The Pattullo Bridge has had a trouble history of head-on and fatal crashes.
“When you look at the incident and accidents that have happened on that bridge, and the fatalities that would likely have been avoided, certainly it’s a real frustrating item for me,” Surrey Councillor Tom Gill told Global News last year.
TransLink is about to spend $200 million to make the Pattullo earthquake-proof, but some wonder if the money should be spent on a new bridge rather than extending the life of the old one.
“I believe that we’re throwing money away,” said New Westminster councillor Chuck Puchmayr.
TransLink did consider replacing the plastic pylons–called bollards–with a steel cable divider, but decided that it wouldn’t be safe.
Amazingly, Thursday’s 30-car crash didn’t cause any injuries, but it did close the bridge for nearly three hours.
-With files from John Daly
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