A two-year-old child was killed and their mother remains in hospital after getting struck by a vehicle outside a Squamish grocery store Friday night.
Squamish RCMP and paramedics were called to the parking lot of the Independent Grocer on Garibaldi Way just off the Sea-to-Sky Highway around 6 p.m.
Police said the mother and child were leaving the grocery store and crossing the parking lot when they were struck.
BC Emergency Health Services say both air and ground ambulances were sent to the scene.
The mother and child were both rushed to hospital, but police say the child did not survive.
Police say the mother’s physical injuries are minor and she’s expected to be released from hospital overnight.
The cause of the collision is under investigation. The driver remained at the scene, police said.
“We are at the beginning stages of putting together all the details to give an accurate picture of exactly what happened tonight,” Squamish RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Sascha Banks said in a statement.
“We are a tight knit community and our thoughts are first and foremost with the family as well as those who were on scene, responded, and helped in any way they could.”
Insp. Kara Triance, the officer-in-charge of the Sea-to-Sky RCMP detachment, said the family lives in Squamish and are well-known.
“The family is obviously heartbroken, as are all of us,” she said. “This is an immense loss to the community and an incredible tragedy.”
She added the health and wellness of her officers was also top of mind.
“There are a lot of police officers who are very well connected to the community here and know the friends and families in these communities, so this will hit the hearts of the officers very hard,” she said.
“This is a challenging night.”
Several RCMP vehicles took over the parking lot and blocked access to shoppers, who are being told to avoid the area overnight.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or the events before and afterwards is asked to contact Squamish RCMP.