A police manhunt after an Irishman was killed in a hit-and-run is now focusing on identifying the driver after two arrested men were released in Canada.
Eoghan Byrne, 24, died when he was struck by a car at speed as he crossed a road in Vancouver on Sunday. Moments after the Trinity College Dublin science student died, witnesses described the noise from the collision as a “loud bang” and the force of it was like a “car hitting a building”.
It took some time to identify Eoghan, whose parents are Eugene and Mary, but his heartbroken family was finally informed and members immediately flew to Canada. Grief-stricken friends in Vancouver left flowers at the scene for Eoghan, from Skerries in Co Dublin.
Read more: Young Irish man dies in hit-and-run incident in Canada
Friends paid tributes to the pal, who they affectionately knew by his nickname Goose, and revealed that he formerly worked as a lifeguard at the National Aquatic Centre in Blanchardstown, Co Dublin. Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the tragedy and is providing consular assistance to Eoghan’s devastated family.
Vancouver Sgt Steve Addison said: “We believe he was flown through the air and died at the scene, instantly. His family from Ireland are making their way here. We will work to support them.”
The moment of the fatal collision was recorded by CCTV footage camera and shows Eoghan’s body flying across the road, nearly 100 metres from the crash site. A woman is then seen fetching a blanket from the boot of her car to cover his body.
Two men, one aged 63 and the other 25, were arrested on Monday and released on Wednesday. Police said Eoghan was walking close to his home when he was struck and killed.
They added it was a grey sedan that was allegedly “travelling at high speeds” and the driver did not stop. The car was later found abandoned and a police collision investigation unit collected evidence from the crime scene throughout the night.
VDP Sgt Addison revealed the arrested 25-year-old is the suspected driver, but both were released amid ongoing investigations to determine who was behind the wheel and if they ran a red light.
He added: “VPD officers identified the suspected driver and arrested him at his home. We also arrested one of the driver’s family members. We are investigating whether that person acted as an accomplice after the fatal collision.”
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