After toddler killed in Vancouver crash, support pours in

Editor’s note: Vancouver police have issued a correction to its previous statement that the child was 11 months old. The girl was, in fact, 23 months old.

This article has been updated to reflect this correction.

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Support is coming in for the family whose daughter died after a crash in Downtown Vancouver Tuesday.

Flowers and messages are being left just outside the courthouse, where the 23-month-old toddler died after she and her father were struck by one of two cars that had collided.

“No words can express the loss,” reads one card.

“Rest easy little angel,” another says, with a third adding, “watch over your mommy and daddy.”

Memorial for the baby struck + killed by a car in downtown Vancouver is growing. “Watch over your mommy + daddy,” writes one mourner. Charges haven’t been laid but a driver was still in custody yesterday. GoFundMe page says “beautiful, sweet little girl” was named Ocean @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/a702nYptd2

— Monika Gul (@MonikaGul) July 8, 2021

The crash happened on Tuesday, after 6 p.m. in the area of Smithe and Hornby streets. Police say an SUV collided with a high-end sports car, sending one vehicle up onto the curb where the father was walking and carrying his baby.

The baby died at the scene while her 31-year-old dad was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

As a physical memorial grows for the child, it appears a GoFundMe page has also been set up for the family, to help cover funeral costs.

A person describing themselves as a “friend and neighbour” set the campaign up, writing that the child, Ocean, was a “beautiful, sweet little girl.”

The fundraiser is on its way to well surpassing its goal of $15,000.

“This family is still reeling from the shock of this tragedy and will need continued support as they begin to process an unimaginable loss,” the GoFundMe reads.

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Read more: 

• Man arrested after toddler dies in Downtown Vancouver crash

• Vancouver first responders urged to ask for help in wake of crash that killed toddler

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“Ocean, I wish that I could have met you in a different circumstance,” reads one comment, written by a person whose name matches that of a VPD member. “You will be in my heart and memory forever. I promise you that my team and I will do everything that we can to ensure this injustice never happens again. Rest in peace. Till we meet again.”

A person who knows the girl’s parents said Ocean was an “amazing little girl, inquisitive, sweet-natured, and had the most beautiful smile that lit up the neighbourhood.”

Investigators continue to ask for witnesses or anyone with dash-cam footage from the area of Hornby and Smithe streets to contact the VPD at 604.717.3012.

Police say the driver who was arrested in connection with the crash has been released, pending further investigation.

“Investigators are working towards recommending charges in the near future,” a statement from the VPD Thursday reads.

Meanwhile, first responders are also being reminded to reach out for help if they are having trouble coming to terms with what happened, with one inspector saying this crash was an example of a “critical incident,” which can weigh heavy on first responders.