Family and friends are mourning the loss of Ryan Sabet, a West Vancouver youth who died in a tragic motorcycle crash on Saturday.
“Investigators believe the motorcyclist was travelling in the opposite direction when he collided with another vehicle and was then struck by the oncoming fire truck,” reads a statement from Vancouver Police Department released in the hours following the crash.
The motorcyclist died at the scene despite efforts of firefighters and other emergency crews.
“Our crews respond to other people’s emergencies every day in this city, to be involved in such a tragic incident while responding is heartbreaking,” VFRS Fire Chief Karen Fry said. “Our hearts go out to the friends and family of the motorcyclist and all those involved.”
The motorcyclist has since been identified as 18-year-old Sabet, a recent graduate of Sentinel Secondary.
“It is with profound sorrow that we share the heartbreaking news of the unexpected passing of our cherished Ryan,” reads a GoFundMe page set up by family friend Yalda Bahramian.
Before the crash, Sabet was on his way downtown to volunteer at the Celebration of Light fireworks event, said Bahramian, who has been close to the family for around 20 years.
She described Sabet as a “bright, smart, caring, kind, hopeful and loving person.”
“He could communicate and connect with all kinds of people, of all different ages and cultures,” Bahramian said. “You could see the old soul in his body.”
Sabet was also ambitious, and wasn’t one to rely on his parents for money, she said. He was working as a line cook at Cactus Club Cafe, and was set to attend SFU’s Beedie School of Business in the fall, with hopes of pursuing a career in finance. Sabet also played in the West Vancouver Youth Band for more than four years.
Mourning their loss, a group of Sabet’s friends visited the site of the collision on Sunday, laying flowers beside the causeway.
Bahramian said she created the fundraising page to help cover the costs of the funeral, and other related financial burdens of the family, who were left devastated by Sabet’s death.
But the family hasn’t been able to plan for the service, because his body hasn’t yet been returned to the family.
“They don’t give us much information,” Bahramian said of investigators. Friends and family are hoping for more answers and a timely investigation, so they can continue the grieving process, she added.
Both VPD and VFRS have opened investigations into the fatal crash. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has dash cam footage is asked to call Vancouver police at 604-717-3012.
This article has been updated with comment from Yalda Bahramian.
