Lionel Hall dies in fatal North Vancouver boat crash

Lionel Hall dies in fatal North Vancouver boat crash

Fatal North Vancouver boat crash death of Lionel Hall – Obituary

Ten-year-old Lionel Hall lost his life in a devastating boating accident that occurred Saturday evening near Cates Park in North Vancouver.

Hall and another child were riding on an inflatable tube being pulled behind a boat when they were suddenly struck by a speedboat around 6:30 p.m. PT. Hall was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other child was flown to a hospital with serious injuries.

Authorities are examining whether excessive speed and alcohol use played roles in the incident. A man from North Vancouver was taken into custody soon after the collision, but has not yet been publicly identified or charged. He was released on Sunday and is scheduled to appear in court on August 27.

Family friend Coreena Robertson confirmed Hall’s identity and shared that the boy’s parents, Shelley Klassen and Jason Hall, described their son as vibrant and full of life. She said the community has come together in grief and support.

“Parents have been showing up with tears in their eyes. It’s heartbreaking,” Robertson said. “But also a reflection of how much Lionel’s joyful spirit touched those around him.”

Hall was remembered as an active and talented young athlete who enjoyed soccer, rugby, track, and hurdles. His school, part of the Vancouver School District, is offering additional counseling services to help classmates cope with the loss.

Robertson expressed concern over the safety of boating activities and questioned how such a tragedy could happen. “This should be something families do for fun — not something that ends in heartbreak,” she added.

Cates Park, also known by its traditional name Whey-ah-Wichen, sits at the eastern end of Dollarton Highway along the Burrard Inlet. The boat launch there was temporarily shut down for the investigation but has since reopened.

North Vancouver Mayor Mike Little stated that the municipality will collaborate with the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority to explore enhanced boating regulations in the area. Existing speed rules are already in place, but officials are considering further measures, including traffic separation between slower