Ali was described, on an online fundraising page, as “a beloved member of his East Vancouver community.” “Samir was known by all as compassionate, friendly, intelligent and wise beyond his years,” the online fundraising page read. “He regularly volunteered in his community and the most important thing in his life was his faith and the work he did with children.” CBC News learned Ali’s identity through the online fundraiser and through conversations with friends and family. Two teenagers have been identified as the victims of a collision on the Burnaby-New West border Tuesday night after their small car was struck by a Nissan Altima that police say fled a traffic stop. Police previously said the victims are a 17-year-old from Burnaby and an 18-year-old Vancouver resident. They said they would not release their names out of respect for the families’ privacy. A memorial is pictured near 10th Avenue and Sixth Street after a crash that left two teenagers dead on Thursday, July 28, 2022. (Ben Nelms/CBC)
The traffic stop precedes the crash
Metro Vancouver transit police say they attempted a traffic stop on the Altima shortly after 11pm on Tuesday. Police say the vehicle “fled at a high rate of speed” and was found within five minutes four blocks away at 10th Avenue and Sixth Street on the Burnaby-New Westminster border, where it had burst into flames after colliding with a Toyota Yaris. The two teenagers were taken to hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. The two occupants of the fleeing vehicle, a driver and a passenger, were arrested and taken to hospital with minor injuries. They are currently in custody. Const. Amanda Steed said she has already received several tips from the public and dashcam footage and is asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam footage to contact Metro Vancouver Transit Police at 604-515-8300 or via message to the number 877 777. “This helps us paint a picture of what happened before the accident and the actual scene of the accident.”
The IIO examines the role of the police
While police are investigating the crash, BC’s Independent Investigations Office (IIO) is conducting a separate investigation to determine whether police actions played a role in the crash. The IIO, a citizen-led police oversight agency, said it received a tip shortly after the accident and deployed investigators to the scene. “Our role as the public is to find out what the actions of the police were and determine whether their actions were legal or not,” said Ron MacDonald, the agency’s chief political officer.
