The two people killed in a tragic West Vancouver crash last week were both young men from India on student visas, police say.
Just before midnight on June 26, a vehicle travelling westbound on Highway 1 near Westport Road was occupied by four men, all Indian nationals in Canada for school, West Vancouver police said in a statement on Wednesday.
Two men, aged 20 and 21, both died at the scene after the vehicle they were travelling in struck another car head-on in the westbound section of the highway, which is separated from eastbound traffic by a concrete barrier. Also in that vehicle were two other men, 19 and 20 years old, who were seriously injured, according to police.
The lone occupant of the vehicle travelling eastbound in the westbound lanes was a 26-year-old woman, who is also a foreign national, though West Vancouver police did not specify her nationality.
“Families of the deceased and injured have been notified, and out of respect for their privacy, their names will not be released,” police said. “This is truly every parent’s worst nightmare, and the West Vancouver Police Department extends heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of those who lost their lives or were injured in this tragic incident.”
“Due to the ongoing investigation, we are not able to share any additional details of the events leading up to the fatal crash in West Vancouver on June 26, 2024,” police said.
In the wake of the crash, numerous residents have expressed concerns about the safety of highway-adjacent signage and confusing detour routes near the location of the crash.
Following the incident, the Ministry of Transportation said that its staff “thoroughly reviewed all nearby highway access points and confirmed all signage was in place and clearly visible.”
“The project team, in consultation with District of West Vancouver, is installing additional detour signage in connection with the construction project to ensure directions are clear,” the ministry said in a statement Tuesday afternoon.
