Vancouver police investigating after woman struck and dragged by van on Hastings St.
Police believe impaired driving may have been a factor
A 24-year-old woman has life-threatening injuries after she became stuck underneath a van and dragged for several blocks Saturday morning.
A 24-year-old woman has been identified as the victim in a serious collision this morning in the Downtown Eastside. It's believed she was walking near East Hastings and Jackson Avenue when she was struck by a vehicle and dragged several blocks. The investigation is ongoing.
—@VancouverPDThe woman was walking near East Hastings and Jackson Street in Vancouver around 12:30 a.m. when she was struck by a white van and became trapped underneath, police said.
"It was only after [the driver] had pulled over and stopped that he realized that this woman had been pinned under his vehicle and had suffered some very serious injuries," said Sgt. Steve Addison.
Officers have not yet released the victim's identity. They initially said she was believed to be in her 40s.
Later on Saturday, police confirmed her age. Police are also trying to determine where she was walking at the time of the accident.
Police say the driver is a man in his 30s from the U.S. He was taken into custody but has since been released. Addison says impaired driving may have been a factor.
"At this point we do believe that alcohol may have played a role in the collision but we are conducting further investigation to determine the circumstances of the event," he added.
Anyone with information about the incident is being asked to contact police.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.