Pedestrians killed crossing Highway 1

By Jessica Murdy - Chilliwack Progress - February 08, 2008





Two people are dead after being struck by a van Thursday evening, following a fight inside a taxicab. The accident occurred on the Trans Canada Highway, under the Lickman Road overpass. A 32-year-old Burnaby man and a 42-year-old Surrey woman were on a return trip in a Newton Whalley Hiway Taxi, says cab company manager Gurpreet Randhawa.

"The driver was just sitting here beside me, reporting what happened last night," Randhawa told the Progress Friday morning. "He was pretty shocked."

Randhawa says the man and women were picked up at the Superstore in Surrey on Thursday and taken to Chilliwack for unknown reasons. On their return trip, the two began to fight.

"On the way back, they started arguing and pushing each other," Randhawa says.

The driver pulled over at that point, at the women's request, say RCMP. The cab pulled over under the overpass, where the woman left the car and began walking eastbound. The man went after her. It is believed the woman was killed by one vehicle moments before the man was killed by another. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.

The RCMP believe both victims may have been under the influence of alcohol. Both were wearing dark clothing.

The Whalley taxi was hit as well and about half a dozen vehicles collided, closing the highway for several hours afterwards.

The accident happened at about 5:55 p.m.. Traffic was diverted for several hours while investigators combed through debris. No names have been released by police.

Randhawa says taxi cab trips out to Chilliwack are not unusual. The cab company takes fares out this way about once a week.

This incident is still under investigation by the RCMP Fraser Valley Traffic Services. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or who has further information, is asked to please contact Fraser Valley Traffic Services at 604-702-4039.