Pantagraph.com Weather forecast, local radar and more
NewsMonday, August 27, 2007 4:01 PM CDT
Comments Comments (14) | E-mail this page E-mail this page | Print this page Print this page | Enlarge type Enlarge type | Reduce type Reduce type | Search archives Search archives | RSS RSS feeds | Add to My Yahoo! Add to My Yahoo!
6 in wedding party dead in truck crash
By Jeremy Hainsworth
Associated Press
Advertisement

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- A pickup truck plowed through a crowd leaving a pre-wedding celebration in western Canada, killing six people and injuring 19, police said Saturday.

The 71-year-old driver of a truck lost control and ran into 25 to 30 people who were walking along a rural road toward him, police in Abbotsford, British Columbia, said.

The victims had been at the bride's parents' house and were heading to another home, making their way along an unlit road lined with parked cars, according to police and a neighbor.

Jagdish Gill, whose daughter is a friend of the bride, said the group was taking part in a traditional Indian procession.

"They had drums in the front," Gill said. "They were going to have a van in the front, a blinking van, but it got there a little late."

Neither the bride nor the groom was injured, she said, and the wedding will go ahead on Sunday as scheduled, though on a smaller scale.

Ivar Lee, who lives down the road from the house hosting the party, said he was sitting in his backyard when he heard sirens replace the music.

"All of a sudden the music stopped and we heard sirens coming and then we heard more sirens and more sirens and then a helicopter showed up and then a second helicopter showed up," he said.

Three of those who died were men and three were women. Their names have not been released, but police said they ranged in age from their teens to their 50s. One of the injured is 4 months old.

The driver, who is in shock, was questioned and released, Constable Casey Vinet said. He said neither alcohol nor drugs were factors. The truck was taken for a mechanical inspection.

Video
Most commented stories
Browse online archives
Recent issues:
Reader comments on this story - 14 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

So quick to judge wrote on Aug 29, 2007 7:58 PM:

" Just because the driver was elderly, doesn't mean his age is to blame in this tragedy. It could very well be mechanical failure in his vehicle, as is suggested in the artcle. If you read closer it seems that the people in the wedding party weren't visible enough to be walking on the side of a road. Any aged driver would've struck them. "

Vernon wrote on Aug 27, 2007 8:23 PM:

" I drive a Buick and am a much better driver than any Zach or Brittney or Morgan. OMG is correct in the observation that the wedding should have been rescheduled "

To:Seriously concerned wrote on Aug 27, 2007 3:56 PM:

" This tragic incident raises the serious issues surrounding our senior citizens. You are so correct, senior citizens are a huge burden to society. Regards An Eskimo "

Old Joe wrote on Aug 27, 2007 1:19 PM:

" Old people do not kill as many people as young people do. 71 is not very old. Anyone regardless of age should stop driving when they are no longer capable. I am just 91, but I think my friend Mr. Church who is 99 should stop driving. He won't stop on his own so his daughter should take some action. "

Seriously concerned wrote on Aug 27, 2007 1:01 PM:

" This tragic incident raises the serious issues surrounding our senior citizen drivers. They are becoming a hazard and a danger to other drivers and innocent pedestrians and bystanders and I believe there should be legislation limiting these drivers to get behind a wheel beyond a certain age. "

To: To OMG (at 11:26 AM) wrote on Aug 27, 2007 12:27 PM:

" Let's just see what kind of "sense of humor" you would have if your friends or family were killed and/or seriously injured. This is a tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers should be with them at this time, not poke fun of what happened. Shame on all of you. "

To OMG wrote on Aug 27, 2007 11:26 AM:

" LoL that was funny people need to have a sense of humor these days. "

Just me wrote on Aug 27, 2007 9:14 AM:

" How terrible. I would not want to get married so soon after that. Maybe it is a sign. "

To OMG wrote on Aug 27, 2007 7:58 AM:

" Your spelling is bad, your humor is worse. You fail at life. Mmkthxbye. "

To OMG wrote on Aug 27, 2007 7:57 AM:

" Consider ending yourself. "

Senior Drivers wrote on Aug 27, 2007 7:57 AM:

" Seriously, drivers tests every 4 months. These old people just keep plowing into innocent pedestrians. "

Oh! wrote on Aug 27, 2007 6:47 AM:

" Oh my good golly gosh. "

OMG wrote on Aug 26, 2007 9:25 PM:

" I would reschedual my wedding after that! "

Ravi Shankar,Mother Teresa,Yoko Ono & Secretary of state George Ryan wrote on Aug 26, 2007 8:20 PM:

" Oh, the humanity! "
Add your own comments

Please read the rules before posting comments.

You must be logged in to leave comments.
If you don't have a member ID, please register.

*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
  Forgot Your Password?
 
Top of Page | Home | News | Sports | Free Time | Life | Money | Nation/World | Opinion | Blogs/Columns | Archives | Site Map | RSS
Weather | Calendar | Obituaries | Classifieds | Jobs | Autos | Homes | Rentals | Coupons
Lee Enterprises Customer Service | 301 W. Washington St., PO Box 2907, Bloomington, IL 61701-2907 | Ph. 309-829-9000 | 800-747-7323
Copyright © 2009, Pantagraph Publishing Co. and Lee Enterprises. All rights reserved. | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy