A 25-year-old North Vancouver man is recovering from a concussion and a serious case of road rash after smashing into a vehicle while allegedly longboarding drunk down St. Andrews Avenue Friday night.
The longboarder was not wearing a helmet, had no other protective gear on and was dressed in dark clothing when he got on his board after allegedly consuming several beers. He collided with a Suzuki 4x4 at St. Andrews Avenue and Second Street shortly before 11 p.m.
The rider shot through a stop sign at the intersection and hit the vehicle on the right front corner, said Cpl. Richard De Jong, spokesman for the North Vancouver RCMP.
The driver had no way to stop safely, said De Jong.
The boarder was taken to Lions Gate Hospital with a concussion and cuts to his head that required 12 stitches to close.
He had a fair bit of road rash, said De Jong.
This rider was very lucky to sustain only that minimal injury, De Jong added. It could have been much more serious.
De Jong said no decisions have been made about whether to issue the longboarder tickets for violating several City of North Vancouver bylaws including boarding at night, failing to wear a helmet and failing to stop at a stop sign.
Under city bylaws, longboarders are supposed to stay off roads, board only on sidewalks and wear protective gear. Some streets, like Lonsdale, are off-limits for boarding.
North Vancouver municipalities have wrestled with regulating skateboarding and longboarding since experienced longboarder Glenna Evans died in 2010 after colliding with a van on Mount Seymour Road. The popularity of the sport is growing, but a number of residents in the District of North Vancouver have recently complained that boarders whip down some of the steep North Shore hills without regard for vehicles on the road.
One resident took a petition to district council after he collided with a rider coming around a blind corner near his home.
