Photo credit: globalnews.ca
On Wednesday morning, residents of a tranquil neighborhood in Vancouver were abruptly awakened by a series of loud crashes occurring on the street outside their homes.
According to the Vancouver police, emergency calls began to flood in around 3:15 a.m., reporting an erratic driver operating a vehicle in the vicinity of West 3rd Avenue and Stephens Street.
“Upon our arrival, we encountered numerous bystanders who were already at the scene,” stated Sgt. Steve Addison from the Vancouver Police Department. “We discovered that the suspected impaired driver was still in the vehicle, which also contained a young child.”
As police handled the situation, bystanders assisted in caring for the child present in the vehicle.
Addison confirmed that the driver was apprehended, received an immediate suspension of their driving privileges for 90 days, and had their vehicle impounded for a month. Furthermore, authorities are preparing a report to highlight the severe nature of the driving behavior.
In addition to these measures, police are expected to recommend criminal charges pertaining to impaired driving.
While the specific age of the child was not disclosed, Addison noted that upon police arrival, the child was still in the vehicle but did not have access to a car seat. “We do not believe the child was physically injured,” he added, expressing relief that no one else was harmed or killed in the incident.
“The sounds we heard were incredible, like an assortment of crashes,” remarked Quincy Young, a resident who witnessed the event. “Initially, we thought a vehicle was overturning garbage cans. It was heartbreaking, especially hearing the child crying in the backseat.”
Young emphasized the gratitude felt by the community that injuries were avoided, stating, “Thank goodness no one was hurt.” As a psychologist, she noted the profound impact such traumatic experiences can have on children, remarking that for a child of that age, the confusion and fear can lead to lifelong repercussions when caretakers fail in their duties.
Her daughter, Jasper Schaller, was the owner of one of the vehicles that was damaged in the incident, stating that her car is now undriveable. She expressed her concerns, explaining, “It’s so alarming and frightening that a child found themselves in such a dangerous situation.”
As the situation unfolded, Addison revealed that the child, along with an older sibling, was placed in the care of a family member while the driver awaited police processing. He confirmed that the police would be coordinating with the Ministry of Children and Family Development to ensure that appropriate safety measures are established for the welfare of the children involved.
Source
globalnews.ca