Your drive through Abbotsford is about to get intense.

Good morning from the Valley — the fields are talking, the rivers are moving, and we've got stories from five communities that matter. This one, though, is heavy. It's about a pedestrian who died right here in Abbotsford after being hit by an impaired driver, near Simon Avenue and Emerson Street. And the hard part, the part that makes you just shake your head, is that the female driver initially left the scene. My heart just aches for everyone involved.

### Why This Hits Home

Out here in the Valley, we're all connected. Whether you're driving your kids to school near Mill Lake Park, heading out to pick berries on a farm off Fraser Highway, or just grabbing your morning *chai* from one of the shops on South Fraser Way, you're on these roads. Simon Avenue, especially, is a busy stretch, connecting our downtown core to residential areas. This isn't some distant news report; this is our neighbour, our community, suffering a terrible loss.

* A pedestrian's life was tragically cut short.

* The collision occurred at Simon Avenue and Emerson Street, a well-used intersection.

* The driver, reportedly impaired, initially fled the scene before being apprehended.

This incident just hammers home the ripple effect of impaired driving. It's not just a statistic; it's a family changed forever, a community left grieving. For us here in Abbotsford, who share these roads and these pathways, it's a stark reminder to look out for each other and to make responsible choices.

Harpreet Gill-Thiessen, MiTL Sports Desk.

My folks break down the Valley's pulse every sunrise – you can always catch them live at mornings.live.