A crash in downtown Vancouver early Thursday closed traffic at a key intersection.
Witnesses said a body could be seen under a tarp beneath a white tent at the crash site.
Later Thursday morning, Vancouver police confirmed that a 28-year-old man was killed in the crash.
“A blue Honda Accord travelling east was stopped at a red light at West Georgia and Burrard, at around 3 a.m., when the driver of a white Plymouth Voyager drove into the back of the Honda,” Const. Tania Visintin said.
“The van caught fire and the driver had to be extracted from the vehicle. The driver and one passenger in the Honda were seriously injured and taken to hospital. A second passenger in the Honda died on scene.”
BC Emergency Services said it was called to the scene around 3:10 a.m.
Early indicators have led police investigators to believe speed and impaired driving contributed to the crash.
Police say the 34-year-old suspect who was driving the white van was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Pictures from the scene depict a violent crash. The van’s front end is completely crushed, while the car’s trunk area has been severely damaged.
The area has been fully reopened to traffic.
Anyone with information or dashcam video of the Plymouth van driving on West Georgia Street prior to the collision is asked to contact VPD’s collision investigation unit at 604-717-3012.