A section of East Eighth Avenue is closed while New West police investigate a fatal single vehicle collision.
The New Westminster Police Department is in the early stages of investigating a fatal single vehicle collision that occurred at approximately 6:40 am on East Eighth Avenue between Richmond Street and East Columbia Street
“Police are in the early stages of this investigation,” said NWPD spokesperson Sgt. Andrew Leaver. “If you witnessed this collision or have dash-cam footage, please reach out to police.”
Just after 7 a.m. this morning, the New Westminster Police Department took to social media to announce that East Eighth Avenue is closed between Richmond Street and Buchanan Avenue in both directions as officers investigate a motor vehicle incident.
Around the same time, the City of New Westminster stated electrical crews were responding to a power outage resulting from a motor vehicle accident in the Sapperton area and would be providing more details as they become available.
“First responders at the scene of the collision have had to take safety precautions, as there are live wires at the scene,” said a NWPD news release. “BC Coroner and the Integrated Collision Analysis Reconstruction Service have been notified.”
Traffic has been rerouted and drivers are asked to avoid the area.
Because the collision has caused a local power, police ask that motorists treat intersections without power as a four-way stop.
Anyone having a witness statement or dash-cam footage of the incident is asked to contact the New Westminster Police Department Major Crime Unit at 604-529-2430.
Just before 10 a.m., the City of New Westminster stated that power is expected to be restored to the majority of affected customers in approximately three hours, but a small number of customers on East Eighth Avenue and Blair Street would remain without power until a damaged pole is replaced by BC Hydro.
