Iloilo dad, son among victims in Vancouver crash; family seeks prayers

Vancouver police secure the scene after a car drove into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia, Saturday April 26, 2025. (Rich Lam/The Canadian Press via AP)

ILOILO CITY – A 40-year-old Ilonggo and his one-year-old son were among the victims of a car ramming incident during the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, Canada last April 26.

Val Lazarro de la Cruz was believed to have an injury on his spinal cord while his son remains in the Intensive Care Unit.

Both originally came from Barangay Maria Cristina, Jaro, Iloilo City and migrated to Canada in 2007.

READ: PH fest attack: Deaths hit 11; suspect charged

In an interview with Mary Rose dela Cruz, Val’s older sister, she said she cannot help but feel emotional after recalling that what was supposed to be a happy gathering of the Filipino community in Vancouver turned into a nightmare after a black SUV driven by the 30 year old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, rammed into a large crowd which included his brother’s family at around 8 p.m.

She said her brother was just lining up to buy lemon tea in a food stand while carrying his son when the vehicle hit his back and continued to plow on other Filipinos who attended the said activity.

Due to the impact, Val let go of his son who went unconscious but was able to be revived after his mother Jenylyn Espinosa – dela Cruz who happened to be a nurse applied cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

The Dela Cruz family appealed to Filipinos to pray for the survival of both their loved ones. They have also set-up a GoFundMe account for those who are willing to donate.

Eleven people were killed and the suspect who got charged with eight counts of second degree murder has had a history of mental health related interactions with authorities.