A seven-year-old girl is in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after being struck by a driver in West Vancouver’s West Bay neighbourhood, Wednesday evening.
According to police, the girl and her family were crossing the street on the 3300 block around 6:54 p.m. when she was struck by a driver of a 2016 Audi A4 who was headed westbound.
“I believe they were halfway when they saw the car coming,” said Const. Nicole Braithwaite, West Vancouver Police Department spokesperson.
The girl was rushed to hospital with several broken bones and lacerations and, as of Thursday, she remains in hospital.
“Obviously, this is a tragic incident involving the child… and right now our priority is making sure the family and the child are taken care of and that the investigation is conducted as thoroughly as we can,” Braithwaite said.
It’s too soon in the investigation to say what, if any, charges or violation tickets will be laid, but Braithwaite said there is a working theory.
“Early on in the investigation, it appears that speed and alcohol might be factors into this,” she said.
The driver is a West Vancouver man in his 20s. He has been co-operating with police, Braithwaite said.
Because of the serious nature of the crash, West Vancouver police have called in the RCMP’s Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service. They had Marine Drive shut for several hours to gather evidence from the scene. Drivers were detoured up 31st Street.
A serious collision involving a child can be very traumatic for the wider community. The West Vancouver Police’s Victim Services Unit will be providing support to the family and anyone else who may be affected. They can be reached at 604-925-7468.
“We have an amazing group of victims services staff who's willing to assist them,” Braithwaite said.
Braithwaite said they have interviewed several witnesses, but anyone else who saw the collision is urged to contact WVPD at 604-925-7300 and reference file #23-417.
