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Opinion: Cowardly Burnaby hit-and-run drivers have me feeling vengeful

I’m not normally what you would call a vengeful person. I prefer justice to vengeance because that makes for a better society. But I’m stinging emotionally today due to a couple of incidents, including one that hit close to home.
car crash burnaby
The car owned by my daughter's friend ended up on a concrete barrier due to the reckless behaviour of another driver who took off. Contributed photo

I’m not normally what you would call a vengeful person.

I prefer justice to vengeance because that makes for a better society. But I’m stinging emotionally today due to a couple of incidents, including one that hit close to home.

My daughter was a passenger in a vehicle that was in a scary accident a few days ago in which a driver nearly hit her and her friend, but pulled a move that forced them off the road in rainy and wet conditions.

You can see from the photo above, their vehicle ended up on a concrete barrier after my daughter’s friend swerved to avoid the other driver, who didn’t look when they switched lanes. (The two of them were miraculously unharmed.)

As if that dumb driver wasn’t enough, this person stopped for a moment, looked back and then sped off.

So, not quite a “hit” – more like a dumbass-move-and-run.

And now, today, Burnaby RCMP are searching for a hit-and-run driver who left a 13-year-old boy with serious injuries.

On Monday, Dec. 23, at 5:25 p.m., Burnaby RCMP received a report that a child had been struck by a driver at the intersection of 17th Avenue and Humphries Street in Burnaby.

“The boy was transported to hospital with serious injuries including broken bones and a concussion,” said an RCMP statement. “The driver and vehicle suspected of hitting the boy did not stay at the scene after the collision took place.”

At this time, there is no description of the suspect vehicle available and police are asking for the public’s help in locating the driver and vehicle involved in this collision.

There is a special place in hell for hit-and-run drivers because they flee the scene knowing deep down that if they stay, they could probably help the person they have injured.

The driver who struck and killed Burnaby cyclist Charles Masala in late August fled the scene. Another driver who struck and killed a pedestrian in June also took off. Yes, I know they couldn’t have saved either of these people so don’t bother with your mansplaining emails, but that’s not the point. At the time, these drivers had no idea if they could help save these people. It was an unknown and they chose to flee because they are cowards who deserve to rot in jail or worse.

It’s that feeling of “or worse” inside of me that is so scary. These cowards turn me from a peace-loving person into someone who wants vengeance.

So, please, if you can help ID the driver who hurt this little boy on Monday, say something.

You can call Burnaby RCMP at 604-646-9999 or if you wish to remain anonymous contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.