"No parent should ever have to go through the anguish of something so horrific," reads a message posted on the online fundraiser page for the family of a little girl who died Tuesday evening when she and her father were struck by a car involved in a collision with another vehicle in downtown Vancouver.
A family friend set up the GoFundMe page to help the little girl's mother, Star, whose partner, Michael, remains hospitalized with injuries sustained in the incident.
Their little girl, identified in the GoFundMe as Ocean, was 23 months old.
Vancouver police had reported the girl was 11 months old.
Authorities say a black Ford Escape collided with a black McLaren in the intersection of Smithe and Hornby streets just after 6 p.m. on July 6.
When one of the vehicles went up onto the sidewalk, the driver struck a 31-year-old man, who was carrying his young daughter.
The girl died instantly, say police.
“This is an absolute tragedy,” says Constable Tania Visintin, VPD in a media release. “Our most heart-felt condolences go out to the parents and family of this little girl.”
Now friends and strangers are voicing their support for the bereaved parents through the online fundraising campaign.
The fundraiser's creator says "donations are imperative."
The mother "has prior mental health challenges and a history of PTSD, and having to bear a financial burden at this point will only worsen the impact of what's happened to this family."
Funds raised will go toward "covering expenses for daily living, legal and counselling costs, for little Ocean's funeral arrangements and anything else they may need."
"This family is still reeling from the shock of this tragedy and will need continued support as they begin to process an unimaginable loss," notes the family's friend.
So far, the fundraiser has more than doubled its initial $15,000 goal and has exceeded the $34,000 mark.
On Wednesday, the VPD provided an update on the investigation into the collision that took Ocean's life.
The 29-year-old male driver of the Ford Escape was arrested, however, no charges have been recommended at this time.
The investigation remains ongoing, and police are asking any witnesses to come forward.
Investigators are asking for witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage in the area of Hornby and Smithe streets on July 6 at around 6 p.m. to call VPD’s Collision Investigation Unit at 604-717-3012.
