More details have come to light about those who died after an SUV rammed into a crowded street festival in Vancouver.
Eleven people were killed and nearly 30 were injured on the evening of April 26 at the Lapu-Lapu Day event, which was meant to celebrate the Filipino-Canadian community. Police say the 11 people killed ranged in age from five to 65 years old.
Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, has since been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder in connection with the crash.
Here is what we know so far about those who died.
Maria Victoria Bjarnason lost her life in the April 26 attack, according to her cousin-in-law, Rhona Doria, who spoke on the family’s behalf at an evening mass on Monday, May 5, in Burnaby.
Victoria’s son, Helgi Bjarnason, was also injured and is recovering from surgery.
Doria described Victoria as “a cherished mother, devoted sister, loving daughter, and true friend whose vibrant spirit was extinguished during the horrific incident.”
She said the mother, who lived in the Philippines, was in Canada visiting her two sons. She was supposed to return to the Philippines last week.
“She will be home but in a casket,” said Doria.
Doria said Victoria’s siblings saw her as a steadfast anchor who selflessly ensured their wellbeing.
“Victoria was incredibly strong, endlessly kind, and full of love. She had a big heart that made everyone feel welcome and cared for,” said Doria.
She thanked everyone who had donated to an online fundraiser to help the family bring Victoria home and have a memorial service in the Philippines. It had raised almost $110,000 as of Tuesday morning.
A family member confirmed with CBC News that Jendhel May Sico was one of the victims of the tragedy.
An online fundraiser organized by Sico’s sister, which had raised nearly $130,000 as of May 5, says all proceeds will go toward Sico’s wake and funeral services.
“Jendhel was kind-hearted with a beautiful soul. She lived her life to the fullest,” reads the fundraiser.
“She always had a smile on her face and everyone that knows her would agree that she brought positivity to everyone she met.”
A family member confirmed with CBC News that Rizza Pagkanlungan was another of the victims.
An online fundraiser, organized by a cousin, describes Pagkanlungan as “the sweetest soul, kind-hearted, humble and hardworking.”
It says she was a loving wife and devoted sister.
The fundraiser had raised over $78,000 as of May 5.
“We are doing everything we can to reunite Rizza with her loved ones back home in the Philippines, to lay her to rest with the family who raised her and loved her deeply,” it said.
Vancouver mother Jenifer Darbellay has been identified by family and friends as one of the 11 people killed in Saturday’s tragedy.
Her husband, who was injured in the incident, said his physical injuries do not compare to the heartache of losing his wife.
According to an online fundraiser, the couple has two children, aged seven and 15.
“Everyone who’s hugged me since then, I felt her,” Noel Johansen said of his wife.
“She never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself. She thought of herself as small in terms of the reach, and I can tell you, she was larger than life.”
Alejandro Samper says he was getting ready for work when he received a call from his sister’s fiancé about a “terrible accident.”
He would later confirm that his sister, Glitza Daniela Samper, his mother, Glitza Maria Caicedo, and his father, Daniel Samper, were among those in the crowd when an SUV drove through the festival in the area of Fraser Street and East 43rd Avenue.
“I’m just destroyed,” Samper said Tuesday. “My whole world’s taken away from me.”
Samper said the family came to Canada in the early 2000s, in part to escape violence in Colombia.
He said his parents were the “nicest people” who helped many others, and the family was “very, very close.”
Richard Le, 47, his wife Linh Hoang, 30, and their daughter Katie Le, 5, were among those who died Saturday, according to Richard’s brother, Toan Le.
Toan said Richard had a 16-year-old son, Andy, who had stayed at home that day. Hoang was Andy’s stepmom, Toan said, and had raised him like he was her own.
“His entire life just changed overnight,” he said, adding that the family is trying to stay strong for Andy.
3 of his family members were killed in the Vancouver festival attack
In a video posted to social media Wednesday evening, Andy announced he would be donating roughly half the money raised in an online fundraiser for him to the other victims and their families.
His fundraiser had raised over $540,000 as of Thursday, and it appears to be closed for further donations.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you all so much,” Andy said in the video. “I know many other families are hurting too.”
Andy said he is living with his grandparents and will continue to do so.
The community in New Westminster is mourning the loss of Kira Salim, who was described by the city’s school board as a friend and colleague.
Originally from Brazil, Salim was a teacher-counsellor at both Fraser River Middle School and New Westminster Secondary.
New West Pride also paid tribute to Salim, saying they were “a wonderful, exuberant contributor to our local community.” They were also remembered for being an animal lover, with several pets.
An online fundraiser for Salim’s partner, which had collected over $85,000, says Salim was a person full of light, joy, and was deeply loved by friends, family, and colleagues.
1st victim identified in Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy
