Scary Metro Vancouver dash-cam video shows dangers of drunk driving

The message is simple: Don’t drink and drive.

Burnaby RCMP have shared scary dash-cam video of a drunk driver’s journey across Metro Vancouver early this year.

“We urge everyone to watch this video. This is what impaired driving looks like,” Cpl. Mike Kalanj said.

Mounties say the video was taken on Jan. 8, 2021 as the man drove from Richmond to Vancouver, and then into Burnaby. It shows the driver repeatedly crossing the centre line, sometimes into oncoming traffic.

The driver blows through a red light in pitch dark conditions, and veers off the wrong side of the road, bumping over grass and hitting several posts and other objects.

Burnaby RCMP released scary dashcam footage showing a drunk driver’s journey from Richmond to Vancouver, then into Burnaby in January 2021. (Screenshot/Burnaby RCMP video)

In that same journey, the Cadillac Escalade narrowly misses several parked cars on the left side of the road before colliding with one and then smashing into a fire hydrant. Water from the knocked-over hydrant flooded the road. RCMP say there was $28,000 worth of flood damage to nearby homes.

Police say that’s when the first calls came in about the erratic driving.

Shortly after midnight, the driver drove straight through a stop sign near Gilley Avenue and Marine Drive in Burnaby and smashed into a pedestrian island.

The vehicle was badly damaged and was missing a tire.

Burnaby RCMP released scary dashcam footage showing a drunk driver’s journey from Richmond to Vancouver, then into Burnaby in January 2021. (Screenshot/Burnaby RCMP video)

“It is shocking that nobody was killed or injured, including the driver,” said Cpl. Mike Kalanj with the Burnaby RCMP. “This driver made a decision to put himself and others at risk when he got behind the wheel that night and drove through three cities.”

He adds police are sharing this footage in the hopes it may prevent others from getting behind the wheel while drunk.

“There is no excuse for being impaired behind the wheel.”

Mounties say the driver refused to give police a breath sample and wouldn’t cooperate with officers. The 62-year-old Burnaby man was convicted in August of impaired driving. He was given a one-year driving prohibition and a $1,000 fine.

There was more than $6,600 worth of damage to City of Burnaby property.

Related article: B.C. police changing strategy to catch drunk drivers

RCMP say every year, an average of 16 people are killed and 830 hurt in 1,500 impaired driving related crashes across the Lower Mainland.

“If you plan on attending a gathering where alcohol is involved, please plan for a safe ride home,” Kalanj said. “If you choose to drive impaired, you are taking the risk of coming across a CounterAttack roadcheck and you will be taken off the road.”