30-04-2025
San Diego resident witnesses car speeding into crowd during a Filipino celebration in Vancouver
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A day full of celebrating Filipino arts, culture, and food in Vancouver, Canada, at the Lapu Lapu day block party ended in tragedy Saturday.
Local San Diegan Maria Donato was there selling her Filipino-inspired jewelry brand, Sunkissed Pinay.
'People were coming out of the performance area and just going home and there were still people shopping by my booth,' said Donato.
It was moments later when Donato saw a vehicle speeding down the street.
'It was around 8:15 when I was just helping a customer. We heard a loud bang. The car just sped by really fast. I was kind of just shocked.'
She said she felt frozen in time as the car barreled into a large crowd.
'He just ran into them and I literally saw bodies in the air. That was how horrible it was,' said Donato.
11 people were killed and more than two dozen others were injured. The 30-year-old man behind the wheel has been arrested and charged with murder. Police said he has a history of mental illness and they're confident it was not an act of terrorism.
With recent attacks mirroring what happened in Vancouver last weekend, Donato says she's hesitant about joining future outdoor events unless there are stricter safety measures in place. At the Lapu Lapu block party there were no significant barriers in place to deter or stop a vehicle.
Donato said she still gets emotional thinking about the destruction that unfolded in front of her.
'The images of the bodies in the air. It's in my head still. I try not to think about it, but it just comes into my mind. I think overall I'm doing a lot better, but what I'm going through is nothing compared to the victims,' Donato said.
She added that another reason for sharing her experience is to put a spotlight on what happened so that more people can help the victims involved. She is also circulating a link with a roundup of fundraisers for those personally impacted by the tragedy.
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