A family of four from Bellingham was hurt in a crash in Surrey on Sunday afternoon, after their vehicle rolled into a ditch.
Officers were called at 1:36 p.m. to the 4800 block of King George Boulevard, near Art Knapp.
The family’s Honda CRV had rolled over into a ditch in the southbound lane, after witnesses say the van was cut off by a motorcycle.
“He was trying to cut people off, trying to get to where he was going,” witness Nina Houngbo said.
All four people were injured and taken to hospital. The driver, a 42-year-old woman, is in serious condition with life-threatening injuries.
Surrey RCMP Cpl. Scotty Schumann said the woman was trapped inside the vehicle for 10 minutes before she was pulled out unconscious by paramedics and firemen.
A 15-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were also in the Honda, along with a 49-year-old male. They escaped with minor injuries.
Schumann could not confirm how the four victims are related, but did confirm they all share the same last name.
On Sunday, Sgt. David MacDonald said he did not know if the family was submerged in the water upside down while waiting for first responders, but the ditch is typically quite full and deep.
MacDonald said it appeared the motorcycle forced the Honda “to take evasive action to prevent a collision, however it over-corrected.” The motorcyclist did not remain at the scene.
Schumann said an eyewitness noted the motorcycle’s licence plate, which police used to track down the registered owner.
The owner was detained and questioned, but later released without charges. Schumann said it’s unclear who was driving the motorcycle at the time of the incident.
“The big task is identifying who the driver is, because of course we can’t charge the motorcycle, we have to prove identity,” Schumann said.
A search warrant was also executed at the home of the motorcycle’s owner.
With files from Jennifer Palma