‘This is a criminal investigation’: Vancouver crash leaves 1 dead, sends 7 to hospital

A 17-year-old has been arrested and a criminal investigation is underway after a crash in Vancouver early Monday left one person dead and sent seven others to the hospital.

Vancouver police say it happened in the Mount Pleasant area of Main Street and 12 Avenue just before 2 a.m.

“The driver was 17, he was Class 7 — he was an N driver and there are restrictions that go along with being a Novice driver … and that will form part of our investigation. But this is a criminal investigation, this is not a Motor Vehicle Act investigation. We believe there’s enough evidence as a result of what we know about the driving behaviour and what was happening inside that vehicle — we believe we have enough information to be conducting a criminal investigation,” explained Sgt. Steve Addison.

“A person has died here. It’s very serious. We believe that the driving behaviour did contribute to the crash.”

Investigators believe a red Cadillac being driven by the Abbotsford teen hit a taxi in the intersection before it went on to T-Bone a ride-share vehicle.

The force of the crash killed the 26-year-old Uber driver at the scene, who was by himself at the time.

“We are heartbroken by the news of this terrible tragedy. Our thoughts are with the driver’s family during this difficult time, and we hope those injured recover swiftly,” said an Uber Canada spokesperson in an email to CityNews.

One person has died and seven others have been taken to the hospital after a crash in the area of Main Street and 12 Avenue early in the morning on July 31, 2023. (CityNews Image)

According to Addison, there were three other teenagers in the Cadillac, along with the driver.

“Some of the injuries, particularly to the occupants of that red Cadillac, are going to be life-altering in the sense that we’re dealing with broken bones, we’re going to be dealing with scars, as well as the emotional trauma for everybody that’s involved in such a violent, chaotic, and devastating collision,” he explained Monday afternoon.

The taxi driver and two passengers in that car were taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The VPD says reconstruction teams believe the Cadillac was heading east on 12 Avenue. Investigators are looking to speak with anyone who may have seen the vehicle in the area between Oak and Main streets.

Vancouver police previously told CityNews speed is believed to have been a factor. Impairment is not believed to have played a role, Addison adds.

Addison says an officer who was in the area prior to the crash “did observe the [Cadillac] speeding.”

“We don’t believe there was any engagement but … we were in the area at the time of the collision and because of that we were able to respond very quickly. Sadly, tragically, there was nothing that we could have done to save the driver of the Uber, who did die in his vehicle at the scene,” he explained.

Charges have not been laid.

The @CityNewsVAN Air patrol is above Main St at 12th Ave in #Vancouver. Police remain on scene there investigating a multi vehicle collision that happened overnight. The intersection is shutdown until further notice #1130Traffic @DangerOnAir listen live https://t.co/Ozho7V0RLm pic.twitter.com/vR2Ss6saGe

— CityNews Vancouver Traffic (@CityNewsTraffic) July 31, 2023

The incident forced the closure of the intersection for several hours. It has since reopened.

According to police, this is the third traffic fatality in the city in 48 hours.

The VPD is asking anyone with information about this crash to contact investigators at 604-717-3012.

“We do have a fairly good understanding of the events that transpired, that led up to the collision. However, we’re still looking to speak to anybody who may be able to speak to us about the driving behaviour, anybody who observed the collision, anybody who observed the movements of that red Cadillac prior to that collision, or anybody who was along the route of travel that might have dash-cam video, home security camera, video that might be able to help us fully understand what happened in the moments leading up to the collision,” said Addison.

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