A driver narrowly escaped a fiery inferno when his Mustang burst into flames after it hit a concrete barrier on a Coquitlam freeway exit.
The crash happened during a dangerous street racing incident Tuesday night.
Witnesses reported seeing two vehicles racing on the Cape Horn Interchange exit off of the Port Mann Bridge; the cars were travelling at speeds of more than 150 km/h, police say.
The accident occurred just after 8 p.m. when the Mustang changed lanes in front of a second speeding vehicle, and slammed into the concrete barrier.
A Coquitlam RCMP spokesperson said the driver put himself in danger as well other motorists.
Both vehicles were going between 150 km/h and 180 km/h, said Const. Deanna Law; however, the second vehicle got away so police were unable to get the make, model or license number.
Law warned that street racing is not worth the cost. “Street racing not only puts drivers and vehicles in extreme danger but the public as well, and this is a perfect of example of what could happen,” she told the Tri-City News.
While the driver managed to escape the vehicle unhurt, he was hit with a $368 excessive speeding fine and three driver penalty points. If it hadn’t have been “totalled,” the vehicle would have been impounded, Law said.
“Loss of a life and loss of a car is not worth street racing.”
Law said the crash slowed traffic for an extended period, and the exit was also closed to allow Coquitlam Fire Rescue to douse the blaze and have a tow truck to take away the burned Mustang.
