A 48-year-old woman is facing charges of impaired driving after a longboarder was struck and killed in a residential neighbourhood of Abbotsford on Saturday night.
The longboarder, a 29-year-old man, was travelling northbound down a hill and had a stop sign when he was struck.
The woman was driving a green Ford Expedition, and travelling eastbound, said Cpl. Casey Vinet of the Abbotsford police department.
Vinet said the driver, who had four passengers in the vehicle with her, pulled over immediately. He said evidence of alcohol was found in the vehicle.
Vinet said witnesses indicated the longboarder, who was wearing a helmet, may not have stopped at the stop sign.
Passersby attempted to administer first aid, but the man died at the scene.
The circumstances, including the longboarder’s actions, will be considered when determining what charges the driver may face in addition to the impaired driving charge.
Get daily National news
Longboarding is growing “hugely” in popularity, said Sam Weston of the Boardroom, a Vancouver skate and snowboard shop.
It has also come under increasing scrutiny since longboarder Glenna Evans, 27, was killed after missing a turn while longboarding down Mount Seymour Parkway in July.
Longboarding on public roadways, like skateboarding, is not regulated by the provincial Motor Vehicles Act.
Following Evans’s death, White Rock and Bowen Island announced a ban on longboarding on public roadways.
Other municipalities like North Vancouver and the District of West Vancouver announced stricter enforcement of bans already in place.
Longboarding and skateboarding is also banned on public roadways in Abbotsford.
Longboarding is considered an extreme sport. “You are going for speed and hills are ideal,” said Weston, who is not a longboarder himself.
Longboards are built with flat “decks” that range from two to five feet in length. They have a wider turning radius than skateboards and can achieve speeds of up to 80 km an hour, said Weston.
Longboarders often wear safety gear, but Vinet urged people to be careful no matter what means of transportation they use.
“Whether you’re cycling, skateboarding, longboarding or driving, remember that life is fragile and can disappear in the blink of an eye.”
The driver and the dead man were not identified.
dryan@vancouversun.com
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.