Bus shelter car crash near Burnaby leaves 5 people injured

Five people have been injured in Burnaby, B.C. after two cars collided with each other, sending one vehicle crashing into a bus shelter and another into a pole. 

Staff Sgt. John Buis said the cars collided in the area of Canada Way and Gardner Court on Tuesday around 1:30 p.m. PT near BCIT. 

"One of the vehicles hit a telephone pole or a hydro pole, and wrapped itself around that, and also then struck a pedestrian. The second car moved over and struck a bus shelter," he said.

A 22-year-old woman has been rushed to hospital in critical condition with severe head trauma.

"It appears she was struck and thrown a considerable distance away from the crash site," Buis said.

Several others are also injured, but the extent of their injuries is not yet known.

Watch raw video of emergency services near the car that struck a pole

Both the cars had 'N' stickers for a new driver, and police said it's possible speed was a factor.  

"It was a beautiful day, and there weren't any weather conditions that were adverse so we're looking at that possibility," Buis said. "I don't know the ages of the drivers and the passengers of the car yet."

Police say the car that hit the pole had three young people in it. The other car had a mother and child, who she had picked up from a nearby school. 

The debris from the collision stretches almost half a block.

Traffic is backed up in all directions while police investigate.

On mobile? Click here for a map of the crash site