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Update: Aug. 25
Two people remain in serious condition in hospital following a horrific crash Saturday (Aug. 20) when an SUV plowed into guests at a wedding in West Vancouver, killing two women.
Seven people were taken to hospital with injuries following the collision Saturday evening, which happened when a woman driving a 2016 Range Rover down a neighbouring shared driveway crashed into guests at an outdoor wedding in the 400 block of Keith Road.
Five of those injured, including one child, have now been released from hospital, said Const. Nicole Braithwaite, spokesperson for the West Vancouver Police Department.
Earlier this week, Braithwaite described the two people most seriously hurt in the crash as having “life-altering” injuries.
Police are still investigating the cause of the crash, which will include applying for a warrant to search the Range Rover’s “black box” data recorder for information on the moments leading up to the crash.
Officers also continue to speak to witnesses and are reviewing video footage, Braithwaite confirmed.
So far, no information has been released about the two women, both in their sixties, who died at the scene, or about the driver of the Range Rover.
West Vancouver Mayor Mary-Ann Booth released a statement this week saying she was “profoundly saddened” by what happened in the Cedardale neighbourhood and offered sympathies to everyone affected by Saturday’s crash.
“What should have been the happiest day of a couple’s life, their wedding day, is now tragically marred by this accident,” she said.
Booth added she knows people have many questions about how the collision could have happened, but cautioned West Vancouver residents against jumping to conclusions. “I’ve heard speculation about possible causes, but it is very important that we wait for the police to conduct their investigation. Our investigators are working diligently and will explore all avenues to determine what happened,” she said.
Original story: Aug. 22
Two women are dead and seven others have been injured after a car crashed into a wedding party in West Vancouver Saturday (Aug. 20) evening.
Police, fire and ambulance were called to an address in the 400 block of Keith Road Aug. 20 with a report of collision with multiple injuries, said Const. Nicole Braithwaite, spokesperson for the West Vancouver Police Department, Monday morning.
Braithwaite said the incident happened after the driver, a woman in her 60s who was exiting a shared driveway driving a 2016 Range Rover, collided with a group of people who were attending a wedding at a neighbouring property.
Eleven ambulances and an air ambulance were dispatched to the scene by BC's Emergency Health Services.
Despite first aid by witnesses and emergency services, two women in their 60s were declared dead at the scene.
"It was a tragic incident that happened on what should have been someone's happiest day," said Braithwaite.
Ambulance paramedics attended to 10 injured people at the scene, according to BC EHS and transported a number of people to hospital, including three people in serious condition and two in critical condition.
West Vancouver Police said seven people were taken to hospital.
The driver of the car was among those rushed to hospital, said Braithwaite. Her condition was unknown on Monday.
Two of the injured – both adults – had “life altering” injuries, said Braithwaite.
The 400 block of Keith Road was closed on Sunday as investigators from the RCMP's Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service examined the scene.
So far, there’s no word from police on possible causes of the crash, although nothing has been ruled at at this point, they said.
“The investigation is still in its early stages and our investigators are working hard to determine the cause of the collision,” said Braithwaite, describing the investigation as "complex."
"In the upcoming days and weeks we will be collecting an abundance of evidence that will determine if charges will be laid. And we will be providing a subsequent update once we have those that information," she said.
Police have the Range Rover which drove into the group of wedding guests and will be filing a search warrant application to do a more detailed examination of the vehicle, said Corp. David Noon, a forensic reconstructionist with the Lower Mainland Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service. That model of Range Rover does contain a so-called "black box," said Noon, which could provide information for the investigation.
In response to questions from reporters on Monday, Braithwaite said police don't have any estimate of how fast the Range Rover was being driven when it plowed into the crowd of about 50 wedding guests on the Keith Road property.
"This is a tragic, tragic incident for everyone involved," she said.
