Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day festival turned into a scene of horror on Saturday evening when a driver crashed into revelers, prompting police to label the event a “mass casualty incident.”
Driver Crashes Into Vancouver Street Festival, Leaving Nine Dead
Driver Crashes Into Vancouver Street Festival, Leaving Nine Dead
A vehicle running into a crowd during a Filipino festival in Vancouver has resulted in a tragic loss, with at least nine fatalities confirmed.
On Saturday night, a driver careened into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, leading to the death of at least nine individuals, as confirmed by local officials. The Vancouver police described the scene as a “mass casualty incident,” shortly after apprehending the suspected driver, a 30-year-old local man.
Initially, investigators ruled out terrorism as a motive, providing little insight into the reasons behind the collision. Dramatic images captured by news outlets depicted a heavily damaged black SUV with deployed airbags.
The incident occurred around 8:14 p.m. on April 26, as attendees celebrated Datu Lapu Lapu, a revered Philippine national hero. In the wake of the tragedy, police stated in a social media update: “We can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night’s Lapu Lapu Festival. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident.”
At a news briefing, interim police chief Steve Rai mentioned that the driver was familiar to law enforcement but refrained from speculating on motives. Witnesses indicated that festival attendees managed to subdue the driver prior to police intervention, demonstrating a community response in the face of chaos.
Initially, investigators ruled out terrorism as a motive, providing little insight into the reasons behind the collision. Dramatic images captured by news outlets depicted a heavily damaged black SUV with deployed airbags.
The incident occurred around 8:14 p.m. on April 26, as attendees celebrated Datu Lapu Lapu, a revered Philippine national hero. In the wake of the tragedy, police stated in a social media update: “We can confirm nine people have died after a man drove through a crowd at last night’s Lapu Lapu Festival. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this tragic incident.”
At a news briefing, interim police chief Steve Rai mentioned that the driver was familiar to law enforcement but refrained from speculating on motives. Witnesses indicated that festival attendees managed to subdue the driver prior to police intervention, demonstrating a community response in the face of chaos.
