In Video: Multiple fatalities after car drives into crowd at festival
Tragedy Strikes at Vancouver Festival: Car Plows Through Crowd Leaving 11 Dead and Dozens Injured
Vancouver, Canada – In a shocking and devastating turn of events, a block party celebrating Filipino heritage in the city’s streets turned into a scene of unimaginable horror on Saturday night. A 30-year-old driver, identified as a Vancouver resident, intentionally plowed through the crowded festival area in a black Audi SUV, leaving a trail of destruction and death in his wake. The incident has left the city in shock, with officials scrambling to piece together the events surrounding the tragedy.
The carnage unfolded just after 8:00 p.m. local time, as hundreds of people had gathered to celebrate the city’s Filipino culture. Witnesses report that the driver, who has not been named, deliberately entered the festival area on East 43rd Avenue, sending a shockwave of fear and panic through the crowd.
"I saw this lady, she was screaming ‘I can’t feel my legs, I can’t feel my legs,’ and people were trying to help her," said Sheldon Nipshake, a festival attendee who returned to the scene soon after the crash. The devastating consequences of the attack are now clear: at least 11 people have lost their lives, with dozens more injured.
While the motive behind the attack is still unknown, authorities have released information that the suspect has a history of interactions related to mental health. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has offered his condolences to the Filipino Canadian community and the people of Vancouver, saying "I’m completely heartbroken, I’m shocked, and I’m angry."
Vancouver police have begun an investigation into the incident, with officials stating that they conducted a risk assessment prior to the event, but had not deemed it necessary to have dedicated police officers or vehicle barriers in place. However, they have promised to review the circumstances surrounding the planning of the festival to determine if more could have been done to prevent the tragedy.
As the city mourns and comes to terms with the severity of the attack, questions remain unanswered. What drove the suspect to such a heinous act? Could more have been done to prevent this tragedy? Answers will have to wait, but one thing is certain: the city will never be the same again.
This brutal act of violence has sent shockwaves throughout Vancouver and beyond, leaving a community in mourning and a nation searching for answers. As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the impact of this tragedy will be felt for a long time to come.
