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The Province
31-05-2025
- The Province
Witness describes scene of chaos after women and child hit in Horseshoe Bay bus accident
One retired Coast Mountain Bus Company operator with nearly 20 years behind the wheel said he suspects the crash resulted from driver error. Flowers at the spot where a four-year-old child was killed and two others injured May 28 at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of injury. Those who have experienced trauma can contact VictimLinkBC by phone or text at 1-800-563-0808 or by email at 211-VictimLinkBC@ for immediate crisis support and resources. VictimLinkBC is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Christine Adams was waiting for the ferry at the Horseshoe Bay terminal on Wednesday, returning home to Parksville after a morning at a book fair, when the unthinkable happened. A transit bus veered onto the curb in front of the terminal's main entrance, striking a mother, her four-year-old child, and a family friend — killing the child. 'It happened within a matter of seconds,' Adams said Friday. 'The bus ended up going right and jumped the curb. It was a horrific thing to witness.' The crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Keith Road and Bay Street, West Vancouver police said. A four-year-old boy died at the scene, and his mother was taken to hospital in critical condition. A second woman, believed to be a family friend, was also taken to hospital and is in stable condition. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Images from the accident show a stroller lying on its side beneath the rear section of the bus, and two sneakers visible on the pavement. Nearby, an elderly man with a walker stood close to the scene, while a woman comforted a child off to the side. One adult appeared to be pinned beneath the middle of the bus. The impact also knocked down the bus stop sign, scattering debris on the sidewalk. 'That could have been me,' Adams said. 'I'm shocked that the mother is alive. She was pinned under a tire of the bus, and I could only see her legs.' The witness described a scene of chaos as bystanders on the sidewalk screamed, some of whom had avoided being struck by the bus. Adams said both sections of the articulated bus remained on the terminal sidewalk. The vehicle came to a stop, and a man who appeared to be a Coast Mountain bus driver — wearing black shorts and a vest — stepped out of the vehicle. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'When the driver walked over to look at the damage, he looked shocked,' Adams said. Adams said she doubted mechanical failure or a medical emergency caused the crash. 'It wasn't a brake issue, because (the driver) stopped the bus right after it happened,' she said. 'It wasn't a medical issue because he came out after about 30 seconds to assess the situation.' The Coast Mountain Bus Company drivers' union, Unifor Locals 111, expressed condolences but declined to speculate on the cause of the fatal crash. A pile of flowers is growing as people pay their respects at the spot where a four-year-old child was killed and two others injured by a transit bus accident May 28 at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal in West Vancouver. Photo by Jason Payne / PNG 'Our hearts go out to the victims and their families following this tragic event,' the union stated. 'At this time, we cannot comment on whether mechanical failure or a medical event was involved, as the official investigation is still ongoing. We trust that authorities will conduct a thorough review, and Unifor is committed to supporting that process in every way possible.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. TransLink spokespersons acknowledged public concern but said they would not comment while the police investigation is underway. Hauke Andresen, a retired Coast Mountain Bus Company operator with nearly 20 years behind the wheel, suspects the crash resulted from driver error. 'There's nothing that would cause the bus to jump the curb, other than a flat tire, which would pull the bus to the right from the weight of the bus,' he said. He said the 257 route uses 18-metre articulated buses, weighing two and a half tonnes, which handle differently than the standard 12-metre models. 'They need a lot more room to turn — you have to take it extra wide. That bus was making a right-hand turn. If you don't take enough space — and Horseshoe Bay has very limited curb room — you'll hit (the curb).' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Andresen said Coast Mountain Bus Company's vehicles are inspected by drivers before departing the Burnaby coach yard, including full air-brake checks. He added that the buses also undergo regular mechanical maintenance based on mileage, or when a vehicle breaks down on the road. 'As a bus driver, you'll never recover from that. Your career is over,' Andresen said. Police said the bus was seized for mechanical inspection, and speed is not believed to have contributed to the crash. TransLink's latest safety statistics show nine preventable bus collisions in 2024, consistent with average over the past five years. The investigation into the crash continues. – With files from David Carrig sgrochowski@ Read More BC Lions Vancouver Canucks Vancouver Whitecaps Local News News
Calgary Herald
27-04-2025
- Calgary Herald
'Bodies everywhere': At least 11 killed, many injured after vehicle driven into crowd in Vancouver
Article content Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence and injury. Those who have experienced trauma can contact VictimLinkBC by phone or text at 1-800-563-0808 or by email at 211-VictimLinkBC@ for immediate crisis support and resources. VictimLinkBC is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Article content Article content A joyous celebration of Filipino culture ended in death and devastation Saturday after a speeding SUV plowed into a crowd at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver, killing at least 11 people and injuring many more. Article content Article content The event was coming to a close around 8:14 p.m., with people lingering after a concert, when a vehicle suddenly drove into a pedestrian-only area along 43rd Avenue near Fraser Street, speeding past food trucks and striking a number of festival participants. Article content Article content Vancouver police confirmed that a 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested at the scene and remains in custody. While an investigation is still underway, police have said they 'are confident that this was not an act of terrorism.' Article content Abigail Andiso was with friends nearby when she heard two loud bangs, then screaming and yelling. They ran toward East 43rd Avenue, which was lined with food trucks and stalls, and saw a scene of carnage. Article content 'There were bodies on the street. They were run over. Some were already dead on the spot,' said Andiso, who called 911. Article content Article content Article content Dale Selipe, who was with Andiso, saw a toddler injured and another child with an open scalp wound. Many of the bodies were twisted grotesquely. Article content Article content 'There was a lady with her eyes staring up, one of her legs was already broken. One person was holding her hand trying to comfort her,' she recounted. Article content Late Saturday, police confirmed at a news conference that a 30-year-old Vancouver man who was known to police 'in certain circumstances' had been arrested, after bystanders at the festival held him until officers arrived. Article content Health officials confirmed overnight that at least 26 individuals were taken to hospital with injuries. As of Sunday morning, the status of those 26 patients was unknown.
National Post
27-04-2025
- National Post
'Bodies everywhere': Multiple people killed, injured at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver
Article content Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence and injury. Those who have experienced trauma can contact VictimLinkBC by phone or text at 1-800-563-0808 or by email at 211-VictimLinkBC@ for immediate crisis support and resources. VictimLinkBC is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Article content A joyous celebration of Filipino culture ended in death and devastation Saturday, after a speeding SUV plowed into a crowd at Lapu Lapu Day in Vancouver, killing multiple people and injuring many more. Article content Article content The event was coming to a close, with many lingering after a concert, when a vehicle suddenly drove into a pedestrian-only area along 43rd Avenue near Fraser Street, revving past food trucks and striking a number of festival goers. Article content Abigail Andiso was with friends nearby when she heard two loud bangs, then screaming and yelling. They ran toward East 43rd Avenue, which was lined with food trucks and stalls and saw a scene of carnage. Article content 'There were bodies on the street. They were run over. Some were already dead on the spot,' said Andiso, who called 911. Article content Article content Dale Selipe, who was with Andiso, saw a toddler injured and another child with an open scalp wound. Many of the bodies were twisted grotesquely. Article content 'There was a lady with her eyes staring up, one of her legs was already broken. One person was holding her hand trying to comfort her,' she recounted. Article content Article content Late Saturday night, Vancouver police confirmed at a news conference that a 30-year-old Vancouver man who was known to police 'in certain circumstances' had been arrested, after bystanders at the festival held him until police arrived. Article content Article content The driver of the SUV was taken into custody and was telling bystanders he was 'sorry.' Sources say he appears to have been suffering from mental-health issues. Article content Article content Videos posted to social media show the immediate aftermath, with bodies strewn across the road, being tended to by first responders and bystanders. Victims were being rushed to several local hospitals, where staff have been told to prepare for mass casualties.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Yahoo
Toronto woman describes her fight for survival from stranger attack along Coal Harbour seawall
Content warning: This article contains graphic descriptions of violence and injury. Those who have been a victim of violent crime can contact VictimLinkBC by phone or text at 1-800-563-0808 or by email at 211-VictimLinkBC@ for immediate crisis support and resources. VictimLinkBC is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A Toronto woman says a recent visit to Vancouver turned into a terrifying fight for survival when she was the target of a violent stranger attack along the Coal Harbour seawall, during which she tried to fend him off by swinging a bag of White Claw seltzer cans as he slammed her to the ground and beat her repeatedly. 'It felt like he was a predator and I was prey. He locked in on me,' the woman said in a TikTok video posted Tuesday. Vancouver police confirmed Wednesday that an incident occurred at 12:30 a.m. on April 15 in Coal Harbour and that Peterhans Jalo Nungu was arrested at the scene and later charged with assault causing bodily harm. He was scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday and remains in custody. Court records show Nungu, who was born in 1991, also faces separate charges of assaulting a peace officer and uttering threats in connection with an incident on April 13 in Surrey. He is expected to appear in court on those charges on May 5. Vancouver police praised the woman, who Postmedia has chosen not to identify, for her courage. 'She fought through and survived a vicious attack committed by a total stranger, and the fact she is telling her story speaks to her courage and resiliency,' Sgt. Steve Addison said in a statement. Asked why VPD did not inform the public about the attack after it happened, Addison said it was because a suspect was immediately arrested and held in custody, posing no public risk. With significant evidence already gathered, including the victim's account and eyewitness statements, he said there was no need to publicize details. 'The decision to tell her story was one that she made without our involvement. The level of detail she has provided is beyond what police would typically be permitted to release in a case that is before the courts, however we welcome the opportunity to provide more information now that she's chosen to come forward.' The woman said the attack left her with a broken nose, two black eyes and multiple other injuries. 'I was in what most people would consider a fairly safe, touristy area that's typically well-trafficked,' she explained in a video on social media. She also posted images of a bloodied pair of AirPods, her bloodstained purse and a shattered phone. In the video, the woman explained that she was walking back to her hotel after dinner when a man on a grassy hill made a comment to her and suddenly charged. The man allegedly grabbed the back of her jacket without warning and slammed her to the ground. Despite being five-foot-two and about 135 pounds, the woman said she fought back with everything she had. Using the bag of canned drinks she had just bought, she said she struck the man repeatedly, momentarily pushing him off. 'I was swinging them on him, just wailing on him,' she said. But the attack didn't stop there. After the woman ran away and called 911, she said the man returned, grabbed her phone, and smashed it on the ground. 'He got me down on my back. … I was kicking his chest, his face, screaming, screaming. He was yelling at me, 'shut up,'' she said. At one point, he ripped off her shoe before she was finally able to break free again. He came after her a third time, she said, this time targeting her head with blows. She said she momentarily lost consciousness. After fighting back once more and managing to escape with one shoe on and covered in blood, the woman said she ran toward a more public area along the wharf near the Westin Bayshore Hotel. 'Thankfully, I encountered a group of people,' she said, who turned out to be plainclothes police officers. 'Because he was still chasing me, they were able to apprehend him.' sgrochowski@ Update: Man arrested after unprovoked assault in downtown Vancouver Female tourist brutally beaten near Vancouver cruise ship terminal
