Burnaby RCMP finds truck with failed brakes on steep hill, issues seven tickets
A Burnaby RCMP commercial vehicle inspector stopped a truck on Royal Oak Avenue on October 8 and found all six brakes overheated and an air line that ruptured during the inspection.
Reported. A news outlet found this. voche.me names the outlet and links its report. Read the original report on globalnews.ca.
A Burnaby RCMP commercial vehicle inspector stopped a commercial truck on Royal Oak Avenue on October 8, 2026, and found the air brake system fail during the roadside check itself. Global News reported the incident on November 10, written by Luca N. Avila Slobodianik.
Const. Kevin Connolly, a designated commercial vehicle inspector with Burnaby RCMP, flagged the truck as it travelled north on Royal Oak Avenue toward Oakmount Crescent. The road is not a designated truck route in Burnaby.
What the inspection found
Const. Connolly heard an audible air leak and found the truck struggling to hold normal air pressure. The spring brake, which serves as the parking and emergency brake, was partially engaged. All six brakes were running hot and giving off a strong burning smell.
During the inspection, the primary air line responsible for the air leak ruptured. The entire air brake system failed.
Burnaby RCMP told Global News and Freshet News that had the failure occurred while the truck descended Oakmount Crescent, the driver would probably have lost all braking ability and caused a catastrophic collision at or near the busy intersection of Royal Oak Avenue and Deer Lake Parkway.
Other violations
Const. Connolly found four more violations. The front axle was over its rated weight. The cargo, a Bobcat skid-steer loader, was not properly secured. The driver was not wearing a seatbelt. The truck was also on a road not designated for heavy vehicles.
Seven tickets totalling $1,547 were issued. The truck was placed out of service and ordered to an inspection facility before it could continue.
What residents can do
Residents who see a commercial truck on a residential or non-designated street in Burnaby can call Burnaby RCMP's non-emergency line at 604-646-9999, which runs seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm. Reports that do not need an immediate response can be filed online at report.rcmp.ca/burnaby.
The Burnaby promise tracker shows how Mayor Mike Hurley and the eight councillors have voted on transportation and road safety since taking office.
Questions this story answers
What did Burnaby RCMP find during the Royal Oak Avenue truck inspection?
On October 8, 2026, Burnaby RCMP Const. Kevin Connolly stopped a commercial truck on Royal Oak Avenue heading toward Oakmount Crescent. He found all six brakes running hot with a strong burning smell, the spring brake partially engaged, and an audible air leak. During the inspection, the primary air line ruptured and the air brake system failed completely. The driver also had an overweight front axle, unsecured cargo, and was not wearing a seatbelt. The truck was travelling on a road that is not designated for heavy commercial vehicles.
What were the fines for the truck driver?
Burnaby RCMP issued seven tickets totalling $1,547. The violations covered the failed brake system, the overweight front axle, improperly secured cargo, the driver not wearing a seatbelt, and travelling on a non-designated truck route. The truck was also placed out of service and ordered to a certified inspection facility before it could continue.
What did Burnaby RCMP say about the risk of the brake failure?
Global News reported that Burnaby RCMP said if the air brake failure had occurred while the truck was descending Oakmount Crescent, the driver would probably have lost all braking ability and caused a catastrophic collision at or near the busy intersection of Royal Oak Avenue and Deer Lake Parkway. The failure happened during the roadside inspection, stopping the truck before it reached the hill.
What is Royal Oak Avenue and why was the truck prohibited there?
Royal Oak Avenue is a Burnaby street that is not designated as a truck route. Burnaby designates specific roads for heavy commercial vehicles to keep them off residential streets and steep routes where brake failures and rollovers are more dangerous. A commercial truck on a non-designated road is already in violation before any mechanical check takes place.
Who is Const. Kevin Connolly?
Const. Kevin Connolly is a designated commercial vehicle inspector with Burnaby RCMP. Designated commercial vehicle inspectors are trained police officers with specific certification to conduct roadside mechanical inspections of commercial trucks, including checks of brake systems, axle weights, cargo securement and driver documents.
Who reported this story?
Global News BC published a story on November 10, 2026, written by Luca N. Avila Slobodianik. Freshet News also published a story on November 10 by Cornelia Naylor. Truck News published a report on November 9. All three drew on the Burnaby RCMP's account of the October 8 incident.
What can Burnaby residents do if they see a commercial truck on a non-designated road?
Residents can call Burnaby RCMP's non-emergency line at 604-646-9999 to report a commercial truck on a road where heavy vehicles are not permitted. The line runs seven days a week from 8 am to 8 pm. Incidents that do not need an immediate police response can also be reported online at report.rcmp.ca/burnaby.
Where can residents follow Burnaby City Council decisions on road safety?
The Burnaby promise tracker on this site shows what Mayor Mike Hurley and the eight councillors promised about transportation and road safety during the 2026 election, and records how they vote on those issues as Council meets.
Sources
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