British Columbia’s transportation minister says the province has suspended the entire fleet licence for the trucking company involved in a hit-and-run crash with a North Vancouver overpass.
The collision took place around 7 p.m. Tuesday on Highway 1 at the Main Street overpass.
When Mounties arrived at the location, it became quickly apparent the driver had fled the scene of the crash.
On Wednesday, Transportation Minister Rob Fleming called the situation “outrageous,” and said the province’s reaction was swift.
“The company that was involved in the incident last night has had their entire fleet’s licence suspended pending the investigation by the commercial vehicle safety agency,” he said.
“We are implementing very strong deterrents for this to happen, but nevertheless, it did happen. I think I can speak for everybody with regards to how frustrating this is.”
Fleming said there is also a criminal investigation underway, given that the driver fled the scene.
“At this point, the driver is still outstanding and his identity remains unknown,” North Vancouver RCMP Const. Mansoor Sahak said.
“Police have followed up with the owner of the transport truck and have issued them a violation ticket for failure to remain at the scene of accident.”
Police said Wednesday morning the transport truck’s company is not complying with the investigation.
The crash is the latest in a string of overpass collisions in the Lower Mainland, and Fleming said drivers have no excuse given that there are a variety of safety tools relating to overpass height.
“We have made it simpler, more instantaneous, more reliable. DriveBC has a height clearance tool that is absolutely easy for any driver to have downloaded on their phone,” he said.
“It’s never been easier to comply, it’s never been easier to use our highways safely, and yet we have had 10 overpass strikes in a year, and we need to get that down to zero.”
Fleming said the vast majority of the trucking industry is responsible on the roads and supportive of greater enforcement, and that the province is preparing to implement stiffer fines.
The crash closed the eastbound lanes of Highway 1 in the area for eight hours before it was reopened around 3:30 a.m., which created “significant traffic delays.”
Engineers have deemed the overpass structurally safe.
The incident is under investigation with RCMP and Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement involved.
Global New has reached out to the Ministry of Transportation for comment.