Police confirmed right off the bat that alcohol is suspected as a factor, but don’t expect charges to be laid soon in connection with a deadly crash in Ladner that claimed the life of 19-year-old Olivia Malcom.
It could take months, at least, for any charges to be laid in connection with the suspected drunk driving accident last Saturday.
RCMP Sgt. Lorne Lecker of the Deas Island Traffic Services said that although they are proceeding with the incident as an impaired driving causing death investigation, such cases are complex.
“These are very slow investigations. We have to wait for the coroner’s report to come in, mechanical reports to come in, the collision analyst report to come in, so these things can take up to a year. We’re hoping for less than that,” he explained.
That information will eventually be given to Crown which has to review those findings, he noted.
The two-vehicle collision occurred on Highway 17A just north of Ladner Trunk Road around 10 p.m.
According to RCMP, a northbound vehicle in which Malcom, who had been identified through social media, was a passenger was stopped at the side of the road.
Lecker noted there were three occupants in the car. The male driver, Malcom's boyfriend, pulled over to the shoulder at the bus stop and stayed in the vehicle while Malcom and a female friend got out to check for something in the trunk.
Both women were behind the vehicle when it was struck from behind by a northbound Jeep.
Malcom, who had reportedly been at a lacrosse game between the Delta Islanders and New Westminster Salmonbellies at the Ladner Leisure Centre, was pronounced dead at the scene, while her friend, 20, was taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
The Jeep driver remained at the scene and cooperated. Alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor, according to police.
Lecker noted they are interviewing witnesses but are still seeking other witnesses, especially those who may have dash cams. Anyone with information is asked to call 778-290-2400 and quote file number 2018-1802.
Malcom, a member of the New Westminster lacrosse community, was just a few days away from her 20th birthday. A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Olivia Malcom Kindness Bursary in her honour. The page, which has already raised over $45,000, can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/omkindness
A celebration of life is planned for Queens Park Arena in New Westminster on Sunday, June 10 at 2 p.m.
