An event marking Truth and Reconciliation Day at the Tsawwassen First Nation was cut short on Wednesday after a vehicle struck four people, according to CBC. Police described the incident as a collision, CBC reports.
The BBC reports that two people died after pedestrians were struck at the event. The gathering was held near Tsawwassen Mills Mall, where emergency responders were called to what Castanet described as a serious vehicle collision.
The Tsawwassen First Nation ended the event early, citing what CTV News reported as a "civil emergency." CityNews Vancouver reported that a civil emergency alert was issued for the First Nation during the Truth and Reconciliation event.
The event was tied to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, observed annually on September 30. The day is set aside to honour survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. The Tsawwassen First Nation is located in the Metro Vancouver region of British Columbia.
Few confirmed details were available in the initial reporting. The number of people injured beyond the four struck, the condition of those hurt, and the circumstances that led to the collision were not immediately clear from the accounts published Wednesday. Police have not released further information on what caused the collision or whether anyone has been taken into custody.
What to watch next: police are expected to release additional details about the collision and the identities of those involved as the investigation continues.
