A young Irishman killed in a hit-and-run in Canada has been named as Eoghan Byrne.
The 24-year-old, originally from Skerries in Dublin, died when he was struck by a car at speed as he was crossing a road with a friend in Vancouver last week. It happened at Arbutus St in the city at around at around 11.30pm on Sunday.
Local police say a vehicle "appeared to be travelling at high speeds" and that the young man was pronounced dead at the scene.
READ MORE: Heartbreaking note left at scene where Irishman, 24, died in Canada hit-and-run
Eoghan's heartbroken family posted his death notice online this evening along with a picture of him at an airport and a poignant tribute.
It reads: "Wish not so much to live long as to live well" followed by "Ar dheis De go raibh a anam".
The post on RIP.ie says: "The unexpected and tragic death has occurred of Eoghan Byrne in Vancouver.
"An adored son of Eugene and Mary, and beautiful brother of Susan and James. Survived by his heartbroken parents, doting siblings, devoted aunts Catherine, Anne, Ber, Carmel and Mary, and uncles Denis, Eamon, Michael, and James, cousins, extended family, relatives, and a wide circle of special friends."
Meanwhile, a note has been left at the scene where he died in Vancouver along with some flowers.
The touching note left with the flowers describes the young man as merely "someone", with few likely to know the Irishman in a city of close to 700,000 people. The note at the scene says: "'Someone lost their life to a hit-and-run Sunday June 19."
A 25-year-old man and a 63-year-old relative have been arrested in relation to the incident.
Sgt. Steve Addison said in a release: “We asked for help to solve this crime, and after receiving significant information from the public, VPD officers identified the suspected driver and arrested him yesterday at his home in Vancouver for the fatal hit-and-run.
“We also arrested one of the driver’s family members and are investigating whether that person acted as an accomplice after the fatal collision.”
The alleged driver and family member were taken into custody on Monday, police confirmed. Charges have not yet been approved, and the investigation is ongoing.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Vancouver Police Department’s Collision Investigation Unit said investigators “spent the night collecting evidence from the crime scene and have spoken to a number of witnesses.
“Anyone who has not yet come forward is asked to contact investigators right away.”
They believe the vehicle was travelling east on 4th Avenue before the man was struck and may have a damaged front end.
Police have also appealed to anyone who may have surveillance video or dash cam footage from the area to contact them.
A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman said it is “aware of the case and is providing consular assistance”.
They added: “As with all consular cases, the Department does not comment on the details of any specific case.”
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