Preventing vehicle ramming attacks an 'urgent challenge,' says Vancouver mayor

1 month_ago 16

British Columbia·New

Vancouver constabulary precocious purchased a $410,000 mobile conveyance obstruction system, but accidental it would not person been deployed astatine the Lapu-Lapu Day thoroughfare festival had it been disposable due to the fact that the event's hazard appraisal didn't telephone for it.

New $410,000 mobile conveyance obstruction strategy present astatine the disposal of Vancouver police

Karin Larsen · CBC News

· Posted: May 16, 2025 3:25 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

A antheral successful a suit stands astatine a podium and speaks into a microphone, with galore radical flanking him.

The politician of Vancouver says a last study being prepared successful the aftermath of the Lapu-Lapu Day thoroughfare festival calamity volition look astatine however to forestall conveyance ramming attacks.

"One of the astir urgent challenges we each look is however to support radical from the increasing menace of vehicles being utilized to origin harm," said Mayor Ken Sim, speaking astatine a associated metropolis and Vancouver constabulary quality league Friday morning.

Eleven radical were killed and dozens much injured aft an SUV drove into a assemblage conscionable aft the festival ended connected April 26. The idiosyncratic suspected of driving the vehicle, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, has been charged with 8 counts of second-degree murder, with further charges inactive being assessed by the B.C. Prosecution Service.

Sim said caller mobile conveyance barriers precocious purchased by the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) can beryllium deployed rapidly astatine nationalist gatherings oregon to exigency events.

A preliminary study released Friday into the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy says the VPD enforcement committee approved the $410,000 acquisition of 2 afloat equipped Meridian Archer Vehicle Barrier (MAVB) strategy trailers back successful February.

Numerous achromatic metallic barriers beryllium successful a parking lot, each with greenish wording that reads, 'MERIDIAN.'

The instrumentality arrived Thursday, according to the report, and give the VPD "two 'ready-to-go' trailers for planned oregon abbreviated announcement events."

"Each trailer is equipped with 8 barriers, a rolling entree gate, and equipped to artifact 1 large intersection, replacing the request for up to 2 [heavy conveyance barriers]," reads the report.

"Weighing 700 [pounds] each, crash-tested and reusable aft impact, the MAVBs bash not necessitate hydraulics oregon energy and tin beryllium deployed by 1 person."

Acting VPD Chief Steve Rai said adjacent if the MAVB strategy had been disposable for the Lapu-Lapu Day thoroughfare festival, it would not person been recommended according to the hazard appraisal done successful beforehand of the event.

"Hindsight is 20/20," said Rai. "Nothing indicated the request for immoderate alteration with the organizers from however this lawsuit went the erstwhile year. It was classified arsenic a family-friendly event."

The study says each information requirements were met by Lapu-Lapu Day festival organizers.

Rai said that successful the aftermath of the tragedy, accrued information measures were deployed for events similar the Vancouver Sun Run, portion further information is successful the works for upcoming events similar Pride.