Boy killed in North Vancouver boat crash identified online
Lionel, the victim of a fatal boat crash in North Vancouver on Saturday, June 7, is pictured with his mother Shelley Klassen in this image posted on a GoFundMe page for the family.
The boy killed in a heartbreaking boating incident in North Vancouver Saturday has been identified in an online fundraiser as 10-year-old Lionel.
The page, set up by friends of the boy's parents, describes Lionel as clever, sweet, and a talented athlete. It says his 11th birthday would have been in July, and he leaves behind two older siblings.
'Lionel was pure joy and a bright light to all that new him,' the fundraiser reads.
Lionel died after a speedboat crashed into the inner tube he was riding with a friend in the waters off of Cates Park. The other boy, who has not been publicly identified, remains in critical condition Monday.
Mounties believe both alcohol and speed were factors in the deadly crash, and arrested the driver of the speedboat.
The suspect has not been charged yet and was released from custody with conditions Sunday evening. He is due back in court on Aug. 27.
'In order to hold somebody in custody, they would have to be an immediate high risk to public safety,' Cpl. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP explained. 'And if there's fear that he might be a flight risk.'
He said the investigation into the incident is complex and it will take some time to present all the evidence to the BC Prosecution Service for charges to be laid.
With files from CTV News Vancouver's Kevin Charach
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