The investigation in the death of 16-year-old Ernest Azoadam on a party bus in Surrey late Friday night is still on-going but early evidence suggests alcohol and possibly drugs were involved, Cpl Bert Paquet said.
According to reports, Azoadam was on a party bus with friends, dancing and having fun when he suddenly collapsed. The vehicle, owned by Favori Limosine, pulled over at a gas station to call for help but was unable to be revived.
Cpl Paquet said they recovered some evidence and it appeared drinking was happening onboard, which is illegal, and drugs were possibly involved.
The owner of Favori limousines declined comment but said the group paid $500 for a two-hour trip; which was to last from 9:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The bus was full of people aged 16 to 21 years old.
Party buses resemble dance clubs on wheels and although drinking onboard is illegal – this isn’t the first time these types of vehicles have been in the news. Last summer in Cloverdale, two people were stabbed, others beaten with two-by-fours and pepper sprayed after a fight broke out on a party bus filled with high school students.
In Kelowna, the police complained about under-age drinking onboard the party vehicles when an intoxicated 15-year-old was abandoned at a gas station because he was feeling ill. In this latest case, the teens were so intoxicated police had to re-interview many of them.
While some party bus companies turn a blind eye to it, others in the industry said its run well, but some owners damage the industry’s reputation. In response to the death of Azoadam, Silverstar Limousines in Surrey is changing their protocols around rentals. In a statement Silverstar stated, going forward, parental permission will be required in writing for all under age passengers and parental information will be taken in case of emergency.
The driver and the owner of Favori Limousine could possibly face a variety of charges but police are waiting for autopsy results to determine why Azoadam died.
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