West Van wedding crash leaves 10 injured, 2 dead

Ten people have been hospitalized and two others are believed to have died after a driver crashed into a wedding party in West Vancouver on Saturday night.

The incident happened around 6:10 p.m., according to British Columbia Emergency Health Services, which said it dispatched 11 land ambulances and one air ambulance to the scene on Keith Road.

Of the 10 patients taken to hospital, two were in critical condition, three were in serious condition and five were in stable condition, EHS said.

The West Vancouver Police Department told CTV News the incident happened on a long driveway shared between the two properties. The driver – a woman in her 60s – was trying to pull out of the driveway when she sped into a crowd of people.

Police said the driver was one of those taken to hospital after the incident. She was not in custody on Sunday.

The investigation is still in its early stages, police said, adding it was too early to say whether charges would be recommended.

The 400 block of Keith Road has been closed as police investigate.

The WVPD said it plans to release a statement and answer questions on Monday.

Residents of the affluent neighborhood must have speculated on Sunday as to what exactly happened.

« It’s very scary this morning to wake up realizing it’s so close and maybe people you used to know, » said Gordon Ridgedale, who lives nearby.

« The first thing you wonder is if it was deliberate or if it was an accident, » he added. « Maybe it was just the fact that she pressed the accelerator instead of the brake. »

« It looks like a very tragic incident that happened, » said Marion Haglund, who also lives in the neighborhood.

« I don’t know any details, really, as to whether it was a medical event that happened, but just the coincidence of the wedding venue and the other aisle of the person involved, it seems very tragic. »

Haglund offered his condolences to those who lost loved ones, and Ridgedale – who was on his way to church when he spoke to CTV News – said he plans to pray for those involved.