The bridge between Mission and Abbotsford was closed overnight after a head-on collision that sent two people to hospital.
The driver of the vehicle travelling the wrong way on the bridge was attempting to evade police and has been arrested, according to the Abbotsford Police Department.
“You can imagine the danger that puts the public in,” said Sgt. Paul Walker of the Abbotsford police.
The situation began around 12:30 a.m. Friday when officers attempted to stop a Mustang in Mission for an alleged Motor Vehicle Act violation, the department said.
The driver fled the scene and travelled south on the northbound lanes of Highway 11, where he collided head-on with a northbound car, according to police.
“The driver of the civilian vehicle was transported to hospital. They have serious but non-life-threatening injures. Same thing as well with the suspect driver, (who) was transported with serious but non-life-threatening injuries,” said Walker.
The northbound lanes of the bridge were shut down so collision analysts could investigate. Highway 11 reopened just after 6 a.m.
B.C.’s police watchdog confirmed it has begun an investigation into the crash. The Independent Investigations Office, which looks into all police-involved events that result in serious injury or death, said it will first confirm whether the injuries suffered by the two drivers meet the threshold of serious harm under the Police Act, and “what connection, if any, police action or inaction may have played in the collision.”
Abbotsford police would not say if officers were pursuing the suspect vehicle at the time of the crash.
“As a result of the Independent Investigation Office taking over and looking objectively at the police action last night, I can’ t get in to specifics regarding police tactics or the police involvement that led up and to this collision,” Walker said.
“That is a question for the IIO as the investigation goes on,” he explained.
Speed and impairment are being investigated as possible factors in the crash.
Walker said the 32-year-old suspect, who police expect will face a string of charges, already has had “a variety of police files over the last several years.”
In 2024, Abbotsford police had more than 200 files involving dangerous drivers and people who fled from police.
Police asked anyone who has dash camera video of the incident to call the department at 604-859-5225. The IIO also asked any witnesses to call investigators at 1-855-446-8477.
