Vancouver's 13th fatal road collision came on a rainy morning at an unmarked crosswalk
Three people have died on Vancouver roads in two weeks. The VPD's Project Vigilance campaign, the City's crosswalk rules and what residents can do to stay safe.
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Three people have died on Vancouver roads in two weeks, and the Vancouver Police Department confirmed on November 9 that the city has had 13 fatal traffic collisions in 2026.
The VPD made public the year count in its news release about a 78-year-old woman killed at Dunbar Street and West 34th Avenue on November 6. It was the third fatal collision in the city in a 12-day period, all of them in dark or rainy conditions.
What the three incidents show
The VPD's October 27 news release described the first death: a 45-year-old woman struck by a southbound SUV just after midnight at Main Street and National Avenue. She was crossing at a marked crosswalk when the driver struck her. The VPD said she was thrown 30 metres and was pronounced dead at the scene. It was raining heavily. The driver remained on scene and cooperated. No charges were requested as of the October 27 release, and the VPD said alcohol and substance use were not factors.
The second death came on November 7 at 5:30 a.m. A man and a woman were riding an e-scooter on Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver when their scooter collided with a transit bus at West Pender Street. The woman died at the scene. Daily Hive Vancouver reported that neither rider was wearing a helmet. The VPD investigated and cited this collision as one of the reasons for the Project Vigilance launch two days later.
The third was at Dunbar Street and West 34th Avenue on November 6 at 11 a.m. The 78-year-old woman was crossing at an unmarked crosswalk during heavy rain when a Lexus sedan struck her. She was taken to Vancouver General Hospital by ambulance and died the following day. VPD Sergeant Adam Donaldson confirmed in the November 9 news release that this was the city's 13th fatal traffic collision of the year. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated. No charges have been laid and the investigation is ongoing.
What unmarked crosswalks mean in BC
The collision at Dunbar and West 34th happened at an intersection with no painted lines. BC's Motor Vehicle Act creates an unmarked crosswalk at every intersection where sidewalks meet a road, even without lines or signals. Drivers must yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks, marked or not. Pedestrians have the right of way at a crosswalk but must not step in front of a vehicle too close to stop.
The practical result is that crossings exist at nearly every corner in residential Vancouver, most with no visible marker to alert drivers. The VPD's campaign does not specifically address unmarked crosswalk awareness, but its enforcement at high-risk intersections covers them.
What Project Vigilance does
The VPD launched Project Vigilance on November 9 to increase enforcement from then until at least the winter solstice on December 21. Officers will patrol high-risk intersections, main road corridors and school zones. The enforcement targets speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, jaywalking and missing helmets and lights.
Sgt. Donaldson noted in the launch news release that the time zone change in early November extended the dark period of each day: "The clocks aren't turning back, so we need to be a little more aware of the darkness and our surroundings this season."
The VPD's September 2026 e-scooter safety campaign issued more than 1,275 warnings and citations, with most issued as warnings. Sgt. Donaldson said Project Vigilance may involve fewer warnings and more tickets for the same violations.
Rules for e-scooters, cyclists and pedestrians
The VPD used the Project Vigilance launch to list road rules in force year-round:
E-scooters must travel at no more than 25 km/h. Riders must wear a helmet and may not carry a second person. E-scooters must have a white front light and a red rear light between sunset and sunrise. Riding on a sidewalk is not permitted unless a sign allows it. Riding while impaired or using a mobile device is prohibited.
Cyclists of all ages must wear a helmet. Bikes must have a white front light and a red rear light between sunset and sunrise.
Pedestrians who want to be seen in dark or rainy conditions can clip a reflector to a bag or dark clothing. Sgt. Donaldson said in the launch release: "In Vancouver, we love to wear black and carry black umbrellas. If you can clip a reflector to a bag or your clothing, it will help drivers see you."
What residents can do
Drivers should slow down at intersections and school zones and keep phones off the wheel. The Project Vigilance campaign runs until at least December 21; enforcement is active now.
Cyclists and e-scooter riders should check that their lights work before riding after dark and confirm their helmet fits properly. The VPD has said the September campaign showed many riders did not have working lights.
Pedestrians can read the full BC crosswalk rules at bclaws.ca under the Motor Vehicle Act. The VPD news releases on each collision are at vpd.ca. For information about road safety enforcement under Project Vigilance, see vpd.ca/news.
Questions this story answers
How many people have died in traffic collisions in Vancouver in 2026?
The Vancouver Police Department confirmed on November 9, 2026, that the collision at Dunbar Street and West 34th Avenue on November 6 was the city's 13th fatal traffic collision of the year. The figure comes from the VPD news release on the death of the 78-year-old woman struck at that location. Three of those deaths occurred in the two weeks before November 10: October 27, November 7, and November 6 (death confirmed November 7).
What happened at Dunbar Street and West 34th Avenue?
On November 6, 2026, at 11 a.m., a 78-year-old woman was crossing Dunbar Street at West 34th Avenue at an unmarked crosswalk when a Lexus sedan struck her. It was raining heavily. She was taken to Vancouver General Hospital by ambulance and died the following day on November 7. The VPD confirmed the collision in a November 9 news release. No charges have been laid and the investigation is ongoing as of that date.
What happened at Main Street and National Avenue on October 27?
A 45-year-old woman was struck by a southbound SUV just after midnight on October 27, 2026, at Main Street and National Avenue while crossing at a marked crosswalk. The VPD said she was thrown 30 metres and was pronounced dead at the scene. It was raining heavily. The driver remained at the scene. No charges were requested as of the VPD's October 27 news release. The VPD said alcohol and substance use were not factors.
What happened at Seymour Street and West Pender on November 7?
On November 7, 2026, at 5:30 a.m., a man and a woman were riding an e-scooter on Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver. At the West Pender intersection, the e-scooter collided with a transit bus. The woman died at the scene. The VPD noted that neither rider was wearing a helmet. The VPD investigated the collision and cited it as one of the incidents behind the launch of Project Vigilance on November 9, as reported by Daily Hive Vancouver.
What is Project Vigilance and when does it run?
Project Vigilance is a traffic safety enforcement campaign the Vancouver Police Department launched on November 9, 2026. Officers increase patrols at high-risk intersections, main road corridors and school zones. The campaign targets speeding, distracted driving, impaired driving, jaywalking and missing helmets and lights. VPD Sergeant Adam Donaldson said it runs until at least the winter solstice on December 21, the point of shortest daylight in Vancouver. A September 2026 e-scooter campaign issued more than 1,275 warnings and citations; Project Vigilance may issue more tickets and fewer warnings.
What are the crosswalk rules in British Columbia?
In British Columbia, an unmarked crosswalk exists at every intersection where sidewalks meet a road, even where there are no painted lines or traffic signals. Drivers must yield to pedestrians at all crosswalks, marked or not. Pedestrians have the right of way when crossing at a crosswalk but must not step in front of a vehicle that cannot stop in time. These rules are in the Motor Vehicle Act. The collision at Dunbar and West 34th occurred at an unmarked crosswalk, where the law still required the driver to yield.
What are the rules for e-scooters in Vancouver?
In Vancouver, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet. The maximum speed is 25 km/h. E-scooters must have a white front light and a red rear light when ridden between sunset and sunrise. Riders may not carry a second person. Riding on sidewalks is not permitted unless a sign allows it. Riding while impaired or while using a mobile device is also prohibited. The VPD reminded riders of these rules at the launch of Project Vigilance on November 9, 2026, and said enforcement may involve more tickets than the September 2026 campaign.
What can pedestrians do to stay safer on Vancouver streets?
The VPD advises pedestrians to clip a reflector to a bag or dark clothing so drivers can see them in poor light and rain. VPD Sergeant Adam Donaldson said in the Project Vigilance news release: 'In Vancouver, we love to wear black and carry black umbrellas. If you can clip a reflector to a bag or your clothing, it will help drivers see you.' Pedestrians should use marked crosswalks when available, make eye contact with drivers before stepping onto the road, and check for traffic before crossing even where they have the right of way.
Sources
The pages this story draws on. Open one to check a claim yourself.
- VPD news release: 78-year-old pedestrian dies, November 9, 2026vpd.ca
- VPD news release: Project Vigilance, November 9, 2026vpd.ca
- VPD news release: pedestrian struck at Main and National dies, October 27, 2026vpd.ca
- Daily Hive Vancouver: e-scooter death and Project Vigilance, November 9, 2026dailyhive.com
- CTV News Vancouver: Project Vigilance campaign, November 9, 2026ctvnews.ca
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