Officer killed in crash was 2nd-generation Mountie

CTV BC: Young Mountie killed in crash The Mountie killed in an early-morning crash in Surrey, B.C., was part of a family with a long tradition of serving with the RCMP.

The Mountie killed in an early-morning crash in Surrey, B.C., was part of a family with a long tradition of serving with the RCMP.

Const. Adrian Oliver, 28, died when his cruiser collided with a semi truck as he was returning to the Surrey RCMP detachment at the end of his shift at around 5 a.m.

Witnesses said paramedics arrived on the scene and found the officer pinned and unconscious in the shattered, grey, unmarked cruiser.

Darryl Walker, the operations manager of recycling company Emterra Environmental, located near the intersection of the crash site, said it was clear from the tangled wreck of the police cruiser that the officer didn’t survive.

"The engine was sticking right out," Walker said. "It was a mess."

A spokesperson for the company of the truck involved, Heaven Transport, said the driver used a fire extinguisher to put out flames in the cruiser and tried unsuccessfully to get Oliver out.

Emergency crews arrived soon after and were able to extract Oliver from the wreckage. He was rushed to hospital, but could not be saved.

Oliver was a second-generation Mountie whose brother is an RCMP officer in the Lower Mainland. His father, a Mountie in Ottawa, is travelling to B.C. along with other family members in the wake of the tragic loss.

Public Safety Minister Vic Toews said many people will be affected by the loss Oliver, who was part of a family with a long tradition of serving with the RCMP.

"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences to the family, colleagues and friends of Const. Oliver who lost his life today while on duty," Toews said in a statement.

"This is a very sad day for all Canadians."

About a dozen Mounties gathered at the scene at 148^th Street and 64^th Avenue in the Newton area to investigate the crash and mourn the loss of one of their own.

At least eight blocks were closed in one direction and four in another, snarling traffic in the industrial area.

The big rig was not hauling a trailer at the time, but police ha­ve not offered any other details about truck or driver.

Investigators have been at the scene of the crash since it happened, trying to determine who had the right-of-way at the intersection.