Driver arrested in Vancouver crash that killed 23-month-old baby girl

Vancouver police said Wednesday morning that a driver of one of the cars involved in a collision that killed a 23-month-old baby girl Tuesday was arrested at the scene.

Sue Caithness, the victim family’s neighbour, said the child’s mother witnessed the crash.

The woman had just started a construction job and the infant and her father were on their way to meet her when it happened, she said.

“She was walking home from work and they had come down to meet her. She saw her little girl, Ocean and her partner across the road, and she waved, and then she saw the accident,” Caithness said.

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“She felt responsible, because if she hadn’t had this new job they wouldn’t have been coming down to meet her.”

Vancouver police originally said the girl was 11 months old, but that was later clarified by the family, saying Ocean was 23 months old. A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family.

Police said a black Ford Escape collided with a black McLaren in the intersection of Smithe and Hornby streets just after 6 p.m. on July 6.

“This is an absolute tragedy,” Const. Tania Visintin with the Vancouver police said in a release. “Our most heartfelt condolences go out to the parents and family of this little girl.”

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One of the vehicles mounted the sidewalk and struck a 31-year-old man who was carrying his young daughter.

The child died immediately at the scene, police said. Her father was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

He underwent multiple surgeries but the GoFundMe says they were successful.

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Drivers of both vehicles remained on the scene, and the driver of the Ford Escape, a 29-year-old man, was arrested. He has since been released.

Police did not say what the man was arrested for and no charges have been recommended at this time.

Investigators are asking for witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage in the area of Hornby and Smithe streets on July 6 at around 6 p.m. to call VPD’s Collision Investigation Unit at 604-717-3012.