Two people were killed and two injured when a vehicle struck participants during a Truth and Reconciliation walk on Tsawwassen First Nation land near Vancouver. Police said the driver may have suffered a medical emergency and that there is no ongoing public safety risk. Delta Police are investigating and have asked residents to avoid the area while the injured receive hospital treatment.
Two Killed, Two Injured When Vehicle Strikes Participants at Tsawwassen First Nation Truth and Reconciliation Walk
[Reuters]
Two people were killed and two others injured when a vehicle struck participants during a community walk marking Canada’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Tsawwassen First Nation land, south of Vancouver near the US–Canada border.
What Happened
The Delta Police Department said the collision occurred at about 10:25 local time (16:25 BST) in a parking lot on Tsawwassen First Nation territory. Officers said the driver "may have been experiencing a medical emergency" before the collision and that they do not believe the incident was linked to the Truth and Reconciliation event.
"Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those affected by this tragic incident," the Delta Police said in a statement, adding there is no ongoing risk to public safety.
Response and Investigation
Police remained at the scene conducting an investigation and asked residents to avoid the area. Eyewitnesses reported more than a dozen ambulances responding. The two injured people were taken to hospital and are receiving treatment.
Event Details and Context
Tsawwassen First Nation had advertised a community walk followed by the unveiling of a house post to mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The event was scheduled from 09:30 to 13:00 local time.
An X post that has since been deleted showed Canada’s Energy Minister Tim Hodgson saying he had attended the walk and included photographs; a spokesperson later confirmed the minister was not near the location when the collision occurred.
Background
Canada first observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation in 2021 after the discovery of unmarked burial sites at former residential schools. The day coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a grassroots remembrance to honour Indigenous children who were missing from or died in residential schools.
Community note: Tsawwassen First Nation’s website lists 491 members, with about half living on Tsawwassen lands and others residing nearby, including across the border in Bellingham, Washington.
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