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Man stabbed at Coquitlam bus station

The Coquitlam Station bus loop was shut down Thursday morning as police investigated a stabbing that left a 19-year-old Maple Ridge man in critical condition.

The Coquitlam Station bus loop was shut down Thursday morning as police investigated a stabbing that left a 19-year-old Maple Ridge man in critical condition.

The incident took place shortly after midnight when according to Mounties an altercation occurred between at least two people on the east side of the transit exchange.

"The investigation is in its very early stages," said Coquitlam RCMP Cpl. Jamie Chung, adding it was unclear whether the victim was known to police. "We don't have a lot of details right now."

On Thursday morning the entire bus loop and adjacent parking area was cordoned off and the Pinetree Village parking lot across the street was shut down as police conducted their investigation.

Chung said investigators believe that one or more suspects went past the A&W as they walked away from the crime scene and may have left some evidence behind.

"That could be a secondary crime scene," he said. "We believe the suspect or suspects may have fled that way."

Chung added that it was unclear what motivated the attack and he could not say whether the victim was acquainted with the suspect.

Buses were re-routed to the south side of the Coquitlam Centre mall parking area while police photographed the crime scene during the Thursday morning rush hour commute.

Drew Snider, TransLink's public information officer, said officials were able to layout the temporary bus loop in the same configuration and most people were able to make their connections. Service was returned to normal shortly after 11 a.m.

"We really are grateful for [Coquitlam Centre's] cooperation because we would have been hooped otherwise," he said. "I think most people understood this was an unusual situation."

More than 15 different bus lines go through the Coquitlam Station loop carrying hundreds of passengers at any given time, he said.

While the West Coast Express stop next to the bus loop was still open much of the traffic migrated to the park and ride at the station in Port Moody, Snider added.

gmckenna@tricitynews.com