Man Killed in Coquihalla Crash Identified as Father of Lower Mainland Minor Hockey Player

The man who tragically lost his life in a fatal crash on the Coquihalla highway on Monday has been identified as Ravil Gabbassov, the father of a minor hockey player from the Lower Mainland. His son, Timur Gabbassov, miraculously survived the collision with only minor injuries.

The New Westminster Minor Hockey Association (NWMHA) expressed their deepest condolences to the Gabbassov family in a social media post on Tuesday. They also announced that they, along with BC Hockey and Hockey Canada, are offering counselling services to anyone in need of support during this difficult time.

The crash occurred approximately 41 kilometres south of Merritt. BC Emergency Health Services received reports of the collision around 11:30 a.m. According to the police, a Ford F150 heading south crossed the centre median and entered the oncoming traffic, ultimately colliding with a semi-truck in the slow lane.

While the driver of the F150 unfortunately passed away at the scene, a passenger was airlifted to the hospital. The driver of the semi-truck sustained minor injuries. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but it took place during heavy snowfall in the region.

A GoFundMe campaign has been created to support the Gabbassov family during this tragic time. The fundraiser explains that Timur and his father were in Kelowna for a hockey tournament over the weekend, where Timur scored the game-tying goal and New Westminster ended up winning the gold. Ravil decided to stay overnight in a hotel and drive back during daylight hours on Monday. Unfortunately, tragedy struck as they faced the car crash on the Coquihalla Highway.

Ravil Gabbassov leaves behind a wife, daughter, and son. The GoFundMe campaign aims to provide support to his loved ones as they navigate the coming months.

Despite the devastating loss, the NWMHA announced that their U15A1 team voted to play their next game as a tribute to Ravil, stating that he wouldn’t have wanted them to miss a game. The league is calling upon the New Westminster Royals family to attend the Tuesday night game against Semiahmoo at the South Surrey Arena, wearing their New Westminster jerseys as a show of love, strength, and unity for the Gabbassovs.