UPDATE: Vancouver police located the vehicle involved in the fatal collision in the east side of Vancouver, not far from the scene of the accident. VPD Sgt. Randy Fincham said police are still working on identifying the driver of the car during the collision.
Previous story: Friends and family of a young skateboarder killed in a hit and run early Sunday morning in South Vancouver are coming together to mourn their loss.
Ryan Barron and his friend were skateboarding in the area of Heather St. and West 54th Ave. early Sunday morning when he was struck by a vehicle.
“I heard some noises at about 2:30 in the morning,” said neighbour Ernest Ng. “It was like a car speeding and then I heard some commotion.”
Barron’s friend performed CPR on him until paramedics arrived. He was rushed to hospital where he died of his injuries. Vancouver Police say a number of neighbours also came out and tried to provide first aid to Ryan.
“I knew he was in pretty bad shape,” Ng said. “I told him, ‘Just hang on. Help is on the way.'”
The driver of the vehicle fled the scene without stopping.
WATCH: Skateboarder killed in Vancouver hit and run
Originally from Windsor, Ontario, Barron was an avid member of Vancouver’s skateboarding community. His father Terry says he was also into the music scene and that he’ll be “missed by everyone.”
Barron’s employer is now offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to the driver’s arrest.
“The Canada that I live in is not a place where people kill someone and then drive off an run away and try to hide,” said Raw Rolling Papers founder Joshua Kesselman.
Police are searching for an older silver Mitsubishi car. It’s believed the vehicle sustained damage to the driver’s side front end and wheel.
Ryan’s father is pleading with the driver or anyone who knows anything to come forward.
“It will help bring closure to the family,” he said.
“Special thanks to the young man who was with him and tried to perform CPR,” he added.
Sgt. Randy Fincham of the Vancouver Police Department said they have gathered a significant amount of evidence from the scene as well as video evidence from the neighbourhood.