In brief
Police reported that a tragic incident at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver resulted in at least nine fatalities, sparking a “mass casualty incident” investigation.
On Saturday evening, a driver crashed into festival attendees at the Lapu Lapu Day celebration in British Columbia, killing at least nine individuals, as confirmed by local authorities. Vancouver police stated they were addressing what they termed a “mass casualty incident” following reports of a vehicle striking a large crowd. The driver, a 30-year-old man from Vancouver, has been taken into custody. Authorities ruled out terrorism as a motive for the incident. Photographs from the scene show significant damage to the front of a black SUV, with airbags deployed, indicating a serious collision. The festival, which celebrates Datu Lapu Lapu, a celebrated figure in Philippine history, drew many attendees during its festivities. Around 8:14 PM on April 26, the tragedy unfolded near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street, as the driver sped into the gathering. Early Sunday, police confirmed the deaths and expressed their condolences to the victims and their families. During a subsequent news conference, interim police chief Steve Rai stated that the driver had a history with law enforcement. Eyewitness reports indicated that members of the crowd managed to subdue the driver before police arrived on the scene to make the arrest. Investigations are ongoing as authorities seek to understand the full circumstances surrounding this heartbreaking event.
