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Cars Hit Head on - Zero Avenue
On November 15, 2004, three people were injured, one very seriously
on Zero Avenue in South Surrey when a man in a Honda is alleged to have pulled
out of the westbound lane to pass in the 19400 block and collided head on with
two vehicles in the eastbound lane. The Jaws of Life were used to get the Honda
driver out, and he was airlifted to hospital.
For the past four years, residents of the Langley section of Zero Avenue have
lobbied for changes to the road, fearing that people would be injured in exactly
this type of accident.
Over the past weeks, one of the local papers and the Province have run articles
castigating the Zero Avenue residents, and the Council members that voted in
favour of traffic calming devices on Zero Avenue, a tiny rural road that runs
along the U.S. border.
Will those same newspapers cover this story to the extent that they covered the
petty complaints of commuters and self interested residents of other roads in
Langley Township? Because this is the reality of living on Zero Avenue.
Last December, a man driving on Zero Avenue ran head on into a grader truck. He
was driving west, but he was in the eastbound lane of Zero Avenue when he hit
the truck head on. His speedometer was stuck at 168 kmph. He was killed
instantly.
Two days later, a car struck another from behind on Zero Avenue at 232nd Street.
Both were traveling westbound, near a school bus stop, at the time of the
collision. The rear car burned in the middle of the road.
Two weeks ago, Langley RCMP set up radar on Zero Avenue for one hour. During
that time, the officer stopped four cars going over 120 kmph. The speed limit is
50 kmph in some sections, 60 kmph in others.
ICBC was so concerned about the accident rate on Zero Avenue, that they were
prepared to pay 100% of the cost of installing closures on sections of the road.
This solution was rejected by Langley Township Council in favour of "speed
tables" designed to slow traffic to 50 kmph at intersections.
Yesterday Langley Township began construction of Speed Tables along the length
of Zero Avenue in South Langley. It's ironic that the same day, a serious car
crash took place again on Zero Avenue, when someone pulled out to pass on this
narrow country road, and hit two vehicles head on.
The official police report is below. I've also attached the letter I sent
earlier this week to various newspapers, which is an almost eerie prediction of
yesterday's crash. To date, none of the newspapers that were so critical of the
Zero Avenue safety initiatives have seen fit to publish this, or any other
letter from concerned Zero Avenue residents.
Serious Injury Motor Vehicle Collision
November 16, 2004
SURREY: On November 15, 2004 at approximately 3:20 PM a Honda was traveling
westbound on "0" Ave. in the 19400 block. The Honda was traveling west bound in
the east bound lanes and collided with a Van head on. The van was being followed
by a pickup truck which was unable to stop and subsequently collided with the
van. The male driver of the Honda was air lifted to Royal Columbian Hospital in
serious condition. The female driver of the van is being treated at Peace Arch
Memorial Hospital. The driver of the pickup was treated at scene and was not
hospitalized.
"0" Ave. was closed for several hours as a result of the collision. Surrey RCMP
Traffic Section continues to investigate this matter. Anyone who witnessed the
incident should contact the Surrey RCMP Traffic Section at 604-599-7690 or, if
you wish to remain anonymous, call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-Tips.
Released by: Cpl. HASENPFLUG, 31966
Surrey Municipal Traffic Section
-30-
Surrey RCMP, .
Surrey RCMP Detachment
14355 57th Avenue
Surrey, B.C. V3X 1A9
Phone: (604)599-0502
Fax: (604)599-8892
Email: media.webmaster@rcmp-grc.gc.caday's Date -- This is the body of the
announcement ...
For More Information Contact:
Save Zero Avenue
Zero Avenue
Tel: 604 533-3230
FAX:
Internet:
thandel@shaw.ca
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