‘Only a matter of time’

An 83-year-old man had to be cut out of his Toyota Wednesday after he was pinned by the impact of a T-bone collision.

The crash occurred at 157 Street and 24 Avenue around 4:30 p.m., as the senior pulled out from 157th to turn west. His car was hit by a Ford Ranger eastbound on 24th.

“He just pulled out in front of me, I couldn’t stop,” the truck driver said as he watched firefighters work to free the senior.

The senior, whose legs were pinned, was conscious and talking throughout the effort, said Darren Phillips, a longtime auxiliary firefighter with the White Rock hall who happened across the scene on his way home from work.

He also had a sense of humour, Phillips said, noting the senior was smiling and being funny despite the fact his legs were pinned.

“I told him they’re probably going to cut your car apart to get you out and he said, ‘they’re going to what?!’” said Phillips, noting the driver laughed as he said it.

The well-dressed senior told Phillips he was on his way to a Freemasons meeting in New Westminster, and that he had misjudged the time he had to make the turn.

He was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries.

Area resident Daryl Westgate said it was only a matter of time before a crash happened at that location. It is a busy area that needs a traffic light, he said.

“I knew this was going to happen sometime,” Westgate said.

He noted he has asked the city to install a light, but was told the site was too close to the 156 Street and 24 Avenue light-controlled intersection to justify the move.

City officials were not available to comment.

Motorists eastbound on 24 Avenue were diverted south at 157 Street for at least an hour while emergency crews dealt with the scene.

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