A Surrey man has been identified as the victim of a fiery semi-truck collision on Deltaport Way Thursday morning.
Delta police said on Friday morning that next-of-kin notifications were complete. Police are not releasing the man’s name.
The BC Coroners Service has assumed the role in the investigation of his death.
“I can confirm the BC Coroners Service is investigating the death of a male at this location,” said spokesperson Andy Watson. “The Coroners Service investigation will determine who died, how, where, when and by what means.”
The collision took place at approximately 9:45 a.m. June 13 in the 3500 block of Deltaport Way and involved two semi-trucks.
Initial calls to Delta police indicated that the collision was between a semi-truck and a car.
“One truck was travelling eastbound on Deltaport Way and the other truck was travelling westbound at the time of the collision,” said DPD spokesperson Cris Leykauf. “Delta police were on scene shortly after the incident occurred, as was the Delta fire department. The cause of the collision has not been determined, but police can confirm that one other driver received non-serious injuries.”
DPD’s Traffic Section is leading the investigation with the assistance of BC’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement branch.
“The crash scene was complex, and police again thank drivers and all those impacted for their patience,” said Leykauf. “Clearing the road of the semi-trucks was a complicated task. Extensive environmental site clean-up was also required, and was concluded shortly after 3 a.m. June 14, after which point Deltaport Way was fully re-opened.”
Leykauf said police are also receiving inquires on social media as to why police were not confirming why there was a fatality when the Coroner released that information Thursday afternoon.
“Our practice is to wait for the identity of the deceased to be confirmed and the family notified. We do believe that no one should learn of the death of a loved one from the media or social media,” added Leykauf.
