A devastating tragedy unfolded in Vancouver, Canada, Saturday night, when a driver plowed into a crowd attending a Filipino cultural festival, killing nine people and injuring several others. Police quickly confirmed that the driver, a 30-year-old Vancouver resident, was in custody and that there were no indications the act was related to terrorism.
The crash occurred shortly after 8:14 p.m. local time near East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, according to a statement from the Vancouver Police Department posted on X. Officers said that members of the crowd managed to detain the driver at the scene before police formally took him into custody. In a subsequent update on Sunday, the police department confirmed the death toll had risen to nine and offered condolences to the victims and their families, calling the incident a “tragic event.”
During a midnight press conference held at the scene, interim police chief Steve Rai said that the driver, acting alone, drove through the center of a crowded community event. Rai praised the crowd’s quick response in subduing the suspect and emphasized that a comprehensive investigation was underway, with multiple units of the Vancouver Police Department involved in gathering evidence and reconstructing the sequence of events.
The site of the crash was adjacent to the Lapu-Lapu Day block party, an annual festival celebrating Filipino heritage and culture. Witnesses described a horrifying scene. Yoseb Vardeh, co-owner of a food truck stationed at the festival, told the Vancouver Sun that he heard an engine rev loudly before a speeding vehicle tore through the pedestrian-only area lined with food trucks and festival-goers. “I got outside my food truck, I looked down the road, and there’s just bodies everywhere,” Vardeh recounted, adding that police responded swiftly to cordon off the area and arrest the suspect. “This is something that happens in the States, not here,” he said, reflecting the disbelief many attendees felt.
Vancouver General Hospital, the city’s primary trauma center, confirmed it was treating multiple patients from the scene. Deana Lancaster, a hospital spokesperson, indicated that several victims were rushed in for emergency care.
In a statement issued Saturday night, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim expressed deep sorrow over the incident. “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific event at today’s Lapu-Lapu Day celebration,” Sim said, assuring the public that more information would be released as the investigation progresses. “Our thoughts are with all those affected and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this incredibly difficult time.”
British Columbia Premier David Eby said his government was in direct contact with Vancouver officials and offered full support for the ongoing investigation and response. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed his condolences on X, mourning with the victims’ families and Vancouver’s Filipino community. “We are all mourning with you,” Carney said.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of Canada’s New Democrat Party, shared his horror over the tragedy, emphasizing solidarity with the Filipino Canadian community. “As we wait to learn more, our thoughts are with the victims and their families — and with Vancouver’s Filipino community, who were coming together today to celebrate resilience,” Singh posted.
Lapu-Lapu Day holds profound historical significance for Filipinos worldwide. British Columbia officially designated April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, commemorating the 1521 Battle of Mactan in the Philippines, where indigenous leader Lapu-Lapu famously resisted Spanish colonization by defeating and killing the explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Lapu-Lapu remains a revered symbol of anti-colonial resistance among Filipinos and the broader global Filipino diaspora, which in Canada includes nearly 1 million individuals, according to the 2021 Census.
As authorities continue their investigation, the Vancouver community mourns the lives lost during what was meant to be a joyous celebration of culture and heritage.
