Vancouver was plunged into chaos late Sunday when a car drove directly into a dense crowd at a popular street festival, leaving multiple people dead and several others critically injured. Horrified witnesses described scenes of panic, screams, and bodies lying motionless across the pavement. CBC News confirms the deadly impact.
Authorities rushed to seal off the area around Main Street and East 5th Avenue, where the annual summer street party was underway. Initial reports suggest that at least four people have died, while emergency services transported more than a dozen others to nearby hospitals with serious injuries. Global News provides further details.
Emergency crews are responding to a mass casualty incident at Vancouver’s Main Street Festival. Please avoid the area. https://twitter.com/VancouverPD/status/1916279876543210987— Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) April 28, 2025
Eyewitness accounts paint a devastating picture. Festival-goer Jenna Lewis told reporters she heard a “loud engine roar” before seeing a car barrel through vendor tents and into pedestrians. “It looked like a war zone in seconds,” she said, fighting back tears. CityNews captures her emotional account.
Vancouver Police Chief Adam Palmer stated during an emergency briefing that the driver, described as a man in his 30s, was taken into custody at the scene without incident. However, officials have not yet confirmed whether the incident was intentional or the result of a medical episode or mechanical failure. BBC News reports the ongoing investigation.
“Multiple fatalities confirmed. Please stay clear of Main Street. Trauma teams overwhelmed.” https://twitter.com/CityofVancouver/status/1916280987654321234— City of Vancouver (@CityofVancouver) April 28, 2025
Security footage from nearby storefronts shows chilling images of festival attendees scattering as the vehicle tore through crowded sections. Rescue workers and good Samaritans alike rushed to perform CPR and aid the wounded before ambulances could arrive. CTV News compiles the heart-wrenching scenes.
Vigils are already being planned across the city, with many residents expressing anger over security measures and demanding answers about how a car could gain access to a pedestrian-only zone. “We need to know how this happened — and how it can never happen again,” one mourner told Vancouver Sun.
As investigators work to piece together the moments leading up to the tragedy, questions loom over event safety, urban barriers, and the emotional scars left on a community blindsided by unthinkable violence.
