10-year-old dead, driver arrested after boat collision near North Vancouver’s Cates Park
Posted June 8, 2025 10:46 am.
Last Updated June 12, 2025 7:54 pm.
An 10-year-old is dead and another child is in hospital after a serious boating collision near Cates Park Saturday, the North Vancouver RCMP said at a press conference Sunday afternoon.
“On June 7, 2025, at approximately 6:30 p.m., North Vancouver RCMP received multiple reports of a serious collision involving a speed boat and two children on an inflatable tube being towed by another boat,” police said.
“It’s alleged that a speed boat travelling off the waters of Cates Park struck the two children on the inflatable tube.”
The operator of the boat that hit the tube has been arrested, police say. Speed and alcohol may have been a factor.
Mounties attempted life-saving measures on both children.
“Sadly, one child did not survive and was pronounced deceased at the scene,” they said.
“The second child was airlifted to a local hospital in critical condition.”
BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) tells 1130 NewsRadio it was called out to the incident shortly after 6:30 p.m. to take one patient to hospital by air ambulance in serious condition Saturday evening. According to Mounties, the patient was a child and not related to the 10-year-old.
“BCEHS responded with eight units including three primary care paramedics, two advanced care paramedics, a supervisor, the infant care team, and a helicopter,” it said.
Posts on social media show that people in the area started hearing sirens before 7 p.m.
Police closed the park’s boat launch Saturday evening to investigate.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident is asked to call the North Vancouver RCMP at 604-985-1311 and quote file 25-11599.
Editor’s note: RCMP originally reported that the young victim was eleven years of age. In fact, he was ten years old.
