Family appeals for help after deadly hit and run in Vancouver
Posted August 25, 2016 12:00 pm.
Last Updated August 25, 2016 1:34 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The family of a 30-year-old man has made a tearful and desperate plea for information after he was hit by a car in Vancouver earlier this year. Ryan Barron was taken to the hospital but died shortly after.
It was on April 17th, Barron and a friend were skateboarding in the area of Heather Street and West 54th Avenue when one of the men was hit by a car that was heading north. The driver took off.
Two days later, investigators found the car believed to have been involved — a silver 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer — in a garage at a home on the east side of the city. The car was seized and processed by the Vancouver Police Forensics Unit.
And months later, investigators are positive there are people out there that know the driver’s identity and know what happened. “We are appealing to the driver. You know the damage that you’ve done. You know you’ve caused this crash and we’re appealing to you to do the right thing and come forward. Today, you are seeing the impact this has had on Ryan’s family. To the driver of this car, we don’t close files. This will remain an active ongoing investigation until you are arrested. You will not know when we’re coming for you. It may be at a family gathering. It may be at place of employment, but there will be a day when we close this investigation with your arrest, so we are coming for you,” says Staff Sergeant Randy Fincham.
Police know who the registered owner is and they’ve spoken to that person, but they continue to look for the driver who was behind the wheel that night.
Meantime, Barron’s family — which is from Windsor, Ontario — has been struggling to cope since his death. “Ryan was in prime. He was happy and enjoying his new life out here in Vancouver. Our family has changed forever because of this devastating accident. Never in my dreams did I think that my first trip to Vancouver would be to bring my nephew’s ashes back to Windsor. Never did I imagine that I would be holding on to my sister as the crematorium placed Ryan’s ashes in her hands and that I would be flying back to Ontario with Ryan underneath my feet,” says Lynn Stuart, Ryan’s aunt.
“I know Ryan will be with us in spirit, but sometimes that’s just not good enough. [His mother] will never ever experience the joy of watching her son fall in love or holding his future children in her arms. She can’t be able to hear her son’s voice, to feel his arms wrapped around her and hear him say, ‘I love you Mom,'” adds Stuart.
Barron’s family also took a moment to thank police for their efforts to find the person responsible and they had a message for the driver as well. “You too might be in my family’s situation and never would you have imagined the pain and heartbreak because of the fact that people are not coming forward when it’s been your son, your brother, your nephew or your grandchild that has been the victim of a hit and run,” says Stuart.
Police say they have gathered quite a bit of evidence but still need help in an effort to forward this case to Crown Counsel for charges. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Vancouver Police Collision Unit at 604.717.3012 or CrimeStoppers at 1.800.222.8477.
