Mounties in Surrey say nobody was hurt after strong winds managed to tip a scissor lift over onto live wires along Saturday’s Vaisakhi parade route.
Sgt. Tammy Lobb with the Surrey RCMP says an on-duty officer noticed the situation. She says the scissor lift, which was on private property near Anvil Way and 128th Street, had been caught up by the wind and fell over.
“We believe that the flags and the banner that was hanging off the scissor lift actually acted like a sail,” she told CityNews Monday.
“When the wind picked up, it caused the scissor lift to pull down and left.”
Lobb explains it was very lucky the wires stayed put, adding if they had fallen onto the ground along the busy parade route, it could have been catastrophic.
“First responders cleared the crowd from the area around the hazard and made it safe until BC Hydro attended,” she said.
“Thankfully, there were no injuries reported.”
Lobb says the parade was temporarily stopped while the situation was assessed.
“Out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with parade organizers, the parade was halted and the crowd safely dispersed leading up to the conclusion of the event.”
The Surrey RCMP estimates more than half a million people attended the parade on Saturday.
–With files from Srushti Gangdev