At least 11 people were killed after a vehicle ploughed into a crowd in Vancouver, Canada, on Saturday. The horrendous tragedy occurred during a celebration that had thousands in attendance and ended with grieving patrons mourning the deceased, which included a five-year-old girl. Dozens more were hospitalised with injuries, and the driver of the vehicle involved has been charged.
The suspected driver is now facing eight counts of second-degree murder and may receive additional charges as the investigation proceeds. Authorities, based on a BBC report, have identified the accused driver as 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo. He made an appearance in court on Sunday and remains in police custody.
On Saturday, up to 100,000 people attended the annual Lapu Lapu Day festival, where the incident unfolded around 8:14 p.m. The festival, which honoured Filipino national hero Lapu-Lapu, was hosted at East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street. According to the report and the accounts of witnesses, a black SUV barrelled through the crowd, striking festival-goers across several blocks.
Footage of the devastating aftermath of the incident was shared online, showing some patrons pacing while bodies were on the ground and emergency responders were at the scene. Authorities have warned that those being treated may succumb to their injuries, causing the death toll to rise in the coming days.
One witness and local resident, Abigail Andiso, told the media that many families and children attended the event. She said she could hear people all around screaming when the celebration turned deadly.
Another video shows the suspect among a group of angry people. Officials reported that the driver was detained by the attendees until police arrived on the scene. Police also confirmed that Lo was known to law enforcement before the incident and had multiple interactions with both police and mental health services in the past. However, they emphasised that there is no indication the incident was terrorism-related. Acting Police Chief Steve Rai described the event as the “darkest day in the city’s history.”
