Two dead in Canada after vehicle hits pedestrians taking part in First Nations event

Two individuals lost their lives and two others sustained injuries when a vehicle struck pedestrians during a community walk in British Columbia, Canada, to mark National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The tragic incident took place on land belonging to Tsawwassen First Nation, situated south of Vancouver near the U.S.-Canada border.

Local media reported that the deceased were elders from the First Nation. Police stated that the driver might have been experiencing a medical emergency prior to the collision and suggested that the incident is unrelated to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a day dedicated to honoring the victims and survivors of Canada's residential schools.

The accident occurred around 10:25 local time at a parking lot, according to the Delta Police Department. Two injured individuals were being treated in the hospital. Delta Police expressed condolences to the families and all those affected by the "tragic incident." Eyewitnesses reported that more than a dozen ambulances responded to the scene.

Tsawwassen First Nation had planned a community walk followed by the unveiling of a house post in observance of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, which was scheduled from 09:30 to 13:00 local time. Canada's Energy Minister Tim Hodgson attended the walk, sharing images on social media, although a spokesperson for the minister confirmed he was not near the incident.

Tsawwassen First Nation is home to 491 members, with half residing on Tsawwassen lands and the remainder in nearby areas, including Bellingham, Washington. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was instituted in 2021 following the discovery of unmarked burial sites at former residential schools, and it coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a day of remembrance for the children who were missing or died in these institutions.