If the accident had happened at any other time of the year, or this summer had been rainier, the outcome could have been much different, said Pitt Meadows assistant fire chief Mike Larsson.
But thanks to lower levels in Pitt Meadows roadside ditches, six farm workers survived after the blue van in which they were riding rolled into the ditch in the 17300-block Ford Road detour, late Monday night.
“Had the ditch been deeper, it would have been a totally different call.”
Twenty-six firefighters, five fire trucks and six ambulances responded to the call.
No one had life-threatening injuries, but they had to be taken to hospital.
Larsson said the driver of the van was able to get out, but the six remaining passengers were strapped into the van, hanging upside down in the ditch.
Firefighters had to cut them out, ensure they didn’t go into the water and put them on to a spine boards before removing them from the van.
The incident was a great example of firefighters, police and paramedics all working together, Larsson added.
The vehicle ended up five metres down the embankment and rescuers were working in waist-deep water.
“Had it been raining hard over the last week there would have been two or three feet more water in the ditch.”