A 17-year-old North Vancouver boy has died following a car accident in the Gleneagles neighbourhood of West Vancouver Saturday morning.
A 19-year-old female, who was a passenger in the vehicle at the time, was taken to Lions Gate Hospital with unknown injuries, according to West Vancouver police.
The North Vancouver School District has confirmed that Elijah Drasyl, a Grade 12 student at Mountainside Secondary who used to attended Argyle and continued to play sports there, was the teen who died in the car accident.
“He was very connected to both school communities and his loss will certainly affect both schools,” wrote Argyle principal Kim Jonat, in a message to parents Saturday afternoon. “Our hearts go out to the family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.”
Police say the crash occurred in the 6300 block of Marine Drive at around 4 a.m., when the driver of the 2002 BMW slid into a wood telephone pole.
West Vancouver police, along with the Integrated Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Service, are now investigating what caused the crash.
“It was wet, but it’s too early to know a definitive cause,” said Sgt. Paul Faris of the West Vancouver Police Department. “It seems speed was a factor.”
Anyone who may have witnessed the crash, or has dash cam footage of the accident, is asked to call the West Vancouver police non-emergency line at 604-925-7300.
In Jonat’s message to parents, she states that the school is implementing a plan that will “allow students an opportunity to talk about their thoughts and feelings with trained professional staff” when classes resume Monday, and reminded the school community to be mindful of social media and “not participate in online behaviour that spreads misinformation.”
North Vancouver School District spokeswoman Deneka Michaud said counsellors from the school district’s critical incident team will be present at Mountainside and Argyle on Monday to assist students individually or in small groups.
“Our hearts definitely go out to the family and friends,” said Michaud. “This student was very connected to both schools and so both schools are really being impacted by this.”
