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UPDATE: Witnesses report vehicle hood exploding before crash, Highway 1 in Langley re-opened

Lone vehicle occupant was transported to hospital via air ambulance

Witnesses to a vehicle fire on the Trans-Canada Highway in Langley on Tuesday afternoon said they reported seeing the hood of the vehicle “explode” before it crashed into a ditch.

Emergency crews were forced to shut down Highway 1 westbound near 264th Street around 12:45 p.m. to make way for an air ambulance to transport the lone occupant of the vehicle, the driver, a man in his 40s from the Lower Mainland.

One person suffered second and third degree burns to a large percentage of their body, according to assistant fire chief Andy Hewitson.

“Fire crews focused on the vehicle fire as BC Ambulance Service treated the patient,” he said. “We have shut down the highway to land the air ambulance westbound at Highway 1.”

Three paramedic ground units, a paramedic supervisor and an air ambulance responded to the scene, said Jane Campbell, communications officers with BC Emergency Health Services.

“One patient was transported to hospital in critical condition via air ambulance,” she added.

Cpl. Mike Halskov with BC Highway Patrol confirmed the man was taken to the burn unit at Vancouver General Hospital, but said the cause of the incident is still under investigation.

The highway was cleared and re-opened to traffic around 6 p.m.


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