An altercation outside a corner store near Crescent Park Friday night has left one man seriously injured and another facing charges related to a hit and run.
Surrey RCMP say the two men – both local residents who knew each other but whom police aren't identifying publicly – had arranged to meet that evening in the parking lot of a small convenience store at 128 Street and 25 Avenue.
At around 9 p.m., the two got into a violent confrontation, police said, and as one man drove away, he hit the other with his vehicle.
The victim, 49, was transported to hospital by helicopter from Elgin Park Secondary, and a 25-year-old was arrested for leaving the scene of an accident and may face other charges, police said, noting the suspect eventually called police.
Store owner Keith Ro said a shocked customer who witnessed the incident told him that what began as a physical confrontation ended with one man striking the other with his car, then driving away.
"They were arguing, then they hit each other," Ro said.
Ro showed a Peace Arch News reporter where the fight took place, pointing out where apparent blood stains remained on the pavement.
When the vehicle hit the man, the impact made a loud noise.
"I heard a bang," said local resident Stephanie Ursell, who lives across the street.
In addition to the air ambulance, a police helicopter with a searchlight was called in.
Area resident Alec Lajoie observed considerable police activity at nearby Crescent Park Elementary, counting at least three police cruisers and an ambulance.
As Lajoie drove back from the school past the convenience store, he saw the parking lot of the small store had been marked off-limits with yellow police tape, there were orange marker cones on the road and a police cruiser on the scene was apparently holding someone in the back seat.
"I could see the officer (standing outside) shining a light into the car," LaJoie said.
Another similar, but unrelated, Surrey hit-and-run happened the same evening around midnight at the location of a house party near 133A Street and 102 Avenue.
A teenage girl was reportedly hit by a car that drove at a group of pedestrians after some objects were thrown at the vehicle.
Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
RCMP said one person, a young woman, was arrested and faces a charge of dangerous driving causing bodily harm.