Delta police issue new call for missing man who abandoned car on Alex Fraser Bridge

Missing man Avtar was last seen leaving his vehicle abandoned on a busy Delta, B.C., highway. (Courtesy: Delta Police Department)

Police have made a renewed call for help in finding a man who went missing after abandoning his car on a busy Delta, B.C., highway two weeks ago.

At around 5:40 p.m. Dec. 4, Avtar, listed only by his first name, parked his car in the curb lane of the southbound Alex Fraser Bridge and left the vehicle, Delta police said in a statement.

The car, a grey 2023 Volkswagen Taos SUV, was stranded on the foggy highway during the busy afternoon rush and had blocked off commuters.

Avtar is described by police as being 5’11” tall and weighing 230 pounds, with short black hair, a short black beard and black rimmed glasses. He was last seen wearing a black winter jacket without a hood, dark-coloured pants and a light grey toque. He has a tattoo on the back of his right hand.

“The Delta Police Department is renewing its appeal for witnesses to assist in determining what happened to Avtar,” said Insp. James Sandberg in the release.

“We know traffic was impacted almost immediately by the stopped vehicle, yet it wasn’t reported as abandoned for nearly 20 minutes. There are witnesses, and even the smallest piece of information could be crucial to our investigation.”

Delta police are asking anyone who was travelling southbound on the Alex Fraser Bridge that day who might have noticed Avtar or the abandoned car, or who has dashcam video of the bridge from between 5:40 p.m. and 6:20 p.m., to contact them at 604-946-4411 and quote file number 2024-22861.

“This includes a cyclist who was on the southbound (west) sidewalk at that time,” added Sandberg.