‘Criminality’ difficult to prove in crash that killed B.C. toddler Ocean: police

WARNING: Some readers may find details in this story disturbing. Discretion is advised.

Star Joinson and her partner Michael still light candles every night for their daughter, Ocean.

They’ve created a memorial to her in her bedroom, filling her bed with a few new stuffed animals every month as a way to remember her.

Ocean was just 23 months old when she was struck and killed by a car in Vancouver on July 6, 2021.

She was in her father’s arms, waiting to cross the street at the corner of Hornby and Smithe streets.

Star saw the whole thing from across the street.

3:46 Parents of toddler killed in tragic crash in downtown Vancouver speak about their grief and loss

“It’s been hard to cope with my daughter’s death. A lot of times I still see her passing or being knocked out of my partner’s arms,” Star said.

Seven months later – Ocean’s parents say they’ve been warned criminal charges will be very difficult to prove. The end result could be a traffic offence.

“I felt sick to my stomach,” Star said. “I felt like my daughter’s life had no value. I was frustrated, I was angry, I was hurt, I was disgusted in our system.”

“We’ve been waiting, waiting, waiting, and there was all this pressure on us that we’re going to get charges. I ended up almost essentially falling apart at that moment,” added Michael.

Michael’s arm and leg are now held together by metal rods. He suffered multiple fractures to his back and clavicle plus broken ribs, a punctured lung and lacerations to his kidney, spleen and liver.

“I see it before I go to sleep. I’m afraid to go to sleep. But I still do, otherwise, I get sicker,” Star added.

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She said Ocean loved bath time. She was a water baby and loved being in the bath with her mom.

“I miss having something to do. A purpose. I’m finding having to do things without her, which is hard.”

Star also said Ocean was her miracle baby, having lost multiple pregnancies.

“She was my only baby to live and she was taken away by a car.”

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Vancouver police say the crash happened when 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, 2021.

One of the vehicles mounted the sidewalk and struck Michael and Ocean.

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Now, Star has a message to the investigators and lawyers assigned to the case – their daughter’s life mattered.

“Our daughter’s life was worth a lot to us, and I feel that anyone’s child’s life would mean a lot to them,” she said.

“You wouldn’t want to go through what we’re going through. Don’t let our daughter’s life be lost and someone just receive a slap on the wrist. If she was murdered or kidnapped, this person would be charged. She was technically murdered by a vehicle. He needs to be charged appropriately. It’s still death. It should not be a slap on the wrist.”

Vancouver police confirmed to Global News charges will be recommended to the Crown soon but they will not be commenting on the nature of those charges. Ultimately, Crown prosecutors will decide if any charges will be laid.

For now, Ocean’s parents are still waiting.

“I believe children are our future and I wanted to teach a child the things I have learned through my life,” Star said.

“Now I have no one to teach.”

— with files from Rumina Daya