Answers sought after SUV crashed into B.C. wedding party, killing two

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There are nonetheless no solutions as to how or why what police name a “wedding ceremony tragedy” occurred on Saturday night in a quiet West Vancouver neighbourhood that left two wedding ceremony friends useless and extra in hospital after a neighbour plowed into the get together of greater than 50 folks along with her SUV.

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A feminine driver in her 60s was one among seven folks taken to hospital and her medical standing is unknown, in accordance with West Vancouver police. Two of the opposite survivors suffered “life-altering” accidents, Const. Nicole Braithwaite stated on Monday.

The deceased had been pronounced useless on the scene.

“Please take into accout this incident occurred lower than 48 hours in the past and our investigators are working diligently on this case,” Braithwaite stated exterior the West Vancouver police station.

All of the victims had been adults, she stated.

“It was a tragic incident that occurred on what ought to have been somebody’s happiest day,” the police spokeswoman stated. “This can be a tragic, tragic incident for everybody concerned.

“Proper now it’s too early to take a position. We all know what occurred, however we are attempting to determine how and why this incident occurred.”

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The RCMP’s Built-in Collision Evaluation and Reconstruction Service is investigating and has not dominated out pace, distracted driving, alcohol or medication, or felony intent, stated Cpl. Dave Midday.

“That’s to not say they had been causal elements,” Midday stated.

The Vary Rover and its “black field” — an Occasion Information Recorder — are within the possession of investigators, he stated. With the intention to entry that knowledge, a warrant was within the means of being written on Monday afternoon.

The built-in crew investigated greater than 250 automobile crashes with fatalities or critical accidents all through southwest B.C. in 2021.

“I’ve attended effectively over 100 deadly collisions within the eight years I’ve been seconded to the Decrease Mainland Collision Evaluation and Reconstruction Service,” Midday stated, together with a quantity that resulted in a number of deaths. “They’ve all been tragic, however that is the primary time our unit has attended a collision that concerned a marriage, a gathering like this.”

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It’s not recognized whether or not the bride and groom had been among the many victims.

Eleven ambulances, one ambulance helicopter, hearth and rescue private, West Vancouver police and sufferer companies all attended the deadly crash.

Many neighbours additionally rushed to the scene after listening to the noise, together with one retired nurse dwelling close by who declined to be interviewed.

The police have been calling the paved floor a “shared driveway,” however it’s actually a personal stretch of laneway main to a few houses on a Keith Highway dead-end in West Vancouver’s Cedardale neighbourhood.

Neighbours who talked with Postmedia stated Cedardale is a close-knit group. One girl stated she had reached out to supply condolences and volunteer help by way of the nextdoor app, however had heard nothing again.

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The lane winds about 150 metres off the principle highway previous two homes to a 3rd at a useless finish, all properties backing onto the closed Capilano Pacific Path and Capilano River.

A reporter and neighbour guiding him had been knowledgeable the lane was personal property and ordered off by an offended resident. There aren’t any indicators indicating the lane is personal, simply three home addresses on a wood signal on the entrance.

The police will interview each sufferer and eyewitness, Braithwaite stated, in addition to the driving force.

“We’ll gather all bodily proof, we are going to interview all events concerned,” Midday stated. “At that time, primarily based on the proof we now have, we are going to transfer ahead with any Motor Car Act expenses, if warranted.”

— with recordsdata from Joe Ruttle and Mike Raptis

gordmcintyre@postmedia.com

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