RCMP believe impaired driving may have been a factor in Coquitlam's latest hit-and-run investigation, which sent one to hospital in critical condition.
A suspect has since been arrested in connection to the incident, according to Mounties in an update to the Tri-City News.
The collision was reported last Friday night (March 18) — taking place around 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Blue Mountain Street and Alderson Avenue.
"The RCMP Criminal Collision Investigation Team (CCIT) and the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service (ICARS) have been mobilized to investigate this collision," spokesperson Const. Deanna Law explained.
Police added "impairment may be a contributing factor" in the collision.
As seen in witness photos and statements provided to the Tri-City News, a pick-up truck allegedly T-boned an SUV at its driver's side door, and the truck driver fled the scene afterwards.
The collision closed all four directions of the intersection for several hours as police teams gathered evidence, including the stretch of Blue Mountain Street between Quadling and Harris avenues.
The intersection with Alderson recorded 23 motor vehicle crashes between 2016 and 2020, according to the latest data available by ICBC.
This includes 13 fatal incidents involving at least one casualty.
ICBC says, on average, four people die and roughly 2,500 are injured each year from hit-and-run crashes in the Lower Mainland.
The agency adds about 16 people die from impaired-related crashes in the region, stemming from alcohol or drugs.
No other information related to the hit-and-run case is being released by RCMP at this time .
- with files from Diane Strandberg, Tri-City News
