News

Motorist found submerged in truck

A 49-year-old Surrey man found pinned Friday night in his partially submerged pickup by a passing tow truck driver and motorist died of his injuries the following day at Royal Columbian Hospital.
Police believe alcohol played a factor in the East Richmond accident that killed Nediljko Grabic, the lone occupant in the 1983 Dodge Ram Charger 150 pickup.
RCMP Sgt. Willy Laurie told The Review Tuesday that a passerby noticed the truck resting driver's side down in a ditch on the 18000 block of Westminster Highway, near No. 8 Road, at about 10 p.m. Friday. The motorist climbed onto the vehicle and searched for a passenger but didn't see anyone.
Private tow truck operator Steven Hamelin pulled over after seeing the truck's emergency lights flashing. Hamelin and the other motorist were unable to spot the driver after searching the poorly-lit area with flashlights.
It wasn't until Hamelin tried to pull the vehicle out of the ditch that they discovered the unconscious man.
"(At first) I couldn't see anybody because it was pretty much pitch black and raining," he told The Review.
But after he started to winch the truck up to a 45-degree angle, "you could just see his leg and boot."
Hamelin said he was surprised to learn that the man died the following day in hospital.
"When he was pulled out, there was no pulse," he said.
RCMP collision analyst Const. Paul Mulivhill said the vehicle left the road while negotiating a curve. The truck overturned and crashed into the ditch on the south side of the road.
The force of the impact sheered the tailgate from the back of the truck and caved the roof in, Hamelin said.
Although Laurie said no alcohol was found at the scene, Hamelin said one of the bystanders mentioned they saw beer cans in the truck.
An autopsy on the body was conducted on Monday, but the results have not yet been released.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the accident to call 278-1212.