Man charged in 2023 fatal crash in downtown Vancouver

A 35-year-old man has been charged in connection with a traffic collision that killed one person at a major intersection in downtown Vancouver last June, police say.

The crash happened around 3 a.m. PT on June 22, 2023, when a white Plymouth Voyager minivan drove into the back of a Honda Accord that was travelling east but stopped at a red light at West Georgia and Burrard streets.

The collision killed a 28-year-old male passenger in the Honda and seriously injured two others in that vehicle, according to the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). Police also said at the time that the crash caused the van to catch fire, while its driver had to be extricated and transported to the hospital.

The VPD announced on Thursday that the B.C. Prosecution Service had, on Aug. 13, approved several charges against Steven Austin Trakalo.

He is facing one count each of criminal negligence causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death, as well as two counts each of criminal negligence causing bodily harm and dangerous operation of a conveyance causing bodily harm, according to the news release.

Vancouver police also say that they arrested Trakalo in Chilliwack on Sept.5, but he has been released on bail.