A 78-year-old man is recovering after suffering a medical emergency while driving and then crashing into a parked truck early Monday morning.
The incident occurred in the 900 block of Second Street, near 10th Avenue, at about 3:45 a.m. on Monday, March 7.
“I can confirm that it was a medical emergency. Alcohol, drugs, speed – none of that was a factor,” NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Sanjay Kumar told the Record Tuesday afternoon. “He was suffering from medical distress.”
Kumar said paramedics attended the scene and took the man to Royal Columbian Hospital.
“Right now, he is in stable condition,” he said.
New Westminster police remained on the scene for several hours investigating the incident.
Kumar said the police investigation will consider whether mechanical issues contributed to the crash.
“Our traffic section has taken over the file, but they are looking to confirm that nothing was wrong with the vehicle as well,” he said. “There is nothing to suggest there were any mechanical issues. It is believed the driver was suffering from a medical emergency or was in medical distress.”
Kumar said speed was not a factor in the accident.
“It crashed into a parked vehicle,” he said. “I can confirm the air bags did not deploy. The air bags get deployed when the vehicle reaches a certain speed; I don’t know what that speed is. But there is nothing to suggest that the vehicle was going fast.”
