Driver suffers life-threatening injuries in crash that shuts down Vancouver's Oak Street

An early-morning crash in Vancouver has left a driver with life-threatening injuries.

Police said a white Mercedes SUV and white Honda Civic collided at Oak Street and West 49th Avenue just before 1:30 a.m. PT.

The driver of the SUV, a man from Surrey, was taken to hospital, where he remains in life-threatening condition.

A police statementsaid two 20-year-old women who had been in the Civic were treated for minor injuries at the scene.

Sgt. Jason Robillard said early evidence suggests the SUV was travelling north on Oak Street, while the Civicwas heading west on West 49th Avenue when the vehiclescollided.

The statement said speed is believed to be a factor in the crash, which sheared off a power pole and left debrisstrewn across the six-lane road.

Vancouver police asked drivers to avoid the intersection for several hoursas officers investigated and cleared debris. As of 10:10 a.m. PT, two lanes northbound on Oak Street had reopened.

Anyone who may have witnessed the collision is asked to call investigators at 604-717-3012.