Two Uber Passengers Killed in Wrong-Way Highway 1 Crash in Burnaby

Olivia Singh

9/28/20262 min read

Two passengers travelling in an Uber were killed and their driver seriously injured after a wrong-way collision on Highway 1 in Burnaby early Wednesday morning.

RCMP said the crash happened shortly after midnight when a pickup truck travelling in the wrong direction struck a four-door sedan heading westbound on the highway.

Police later confirmed the sedan was being used as an Uber.

“Tragically, two passengers in the sedan were pronounced deceased at the scene,” RCMP said in a statement.

The Uber driver, a 50-year-old man from Coquitlam, was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Victims Identified as Surrey Residents

At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, RCMP said the passengers who died were a 34-year-old woman and a 32-year-old man, both from Surrey.

Their names were not released.

“Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and everyone affected by this collision,” Cpl. Brett Urano said.

Uber did not respond to a request for comment by the reporting deadline.

Pickup Driver Arrested

Police identified the pickup driver as a 32-year-old Surrey man.

He was arrested and taken into custody following the collision but was later released as investigators continued gathering evidence.

No charges have been announced.

RCMP said alcohol is believed to have been a contributing factor in the crash.

Highway Closed for Several Hours

The collision resulted in a lengthy closure of Highway 1 between Kensington Avenue and Sprott Street while police and collision investigators worked at the scene.

The highway reopened shortly before noon PT.

Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj acknowledged that the closure likely caused major delays for tens of thousands of commuters.

He urged drivers frustrated by the disruption to remember the seriousness of what had happened.

“But just remember that we have two people that didn't make it home last night,” Kalanj said.

He added that the area has experienced an unfortunate number of serious crashes recently.

Police Seeking Witnesses and Dashcam Video

RCMP are asking anyone who witnessed the collision or was travelling along Highway 1 around the time of the crash to contact investigators.

Police are particularly seeking dashcam footage recorded between midnight and 12:30 a.m. PT Wednesday.

Anyone with relevant information or video is being asked to contact Burnaby RCMP at 604-526-9744 and quote file number 2026-3201.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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