VANCOUVER - A woman was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries and a man was taken into custody after a serious crash in the Downtown Eastside early Saturday morning.

Vancouver police said a woman was struck by a vehicle while walking near East Hastings and Jackson streets around 12:30 a.m. Police said she became trapped under the vehicle and was dragged several blocks to Columbia Street, at which point the driver stopped and realized what happened.

The victim was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries, police said. Late Saturday night, they identified her as a 24-year-old woman.

The driver, who police identified as "a man in his 30s" from the United States, was taken into custody and then released, pending further investigation, police said.

Investigators said they believe alcohol was a factor in the crash.

Police placed evidence markers at the scene and could be seen focusing their attention on a white commercial van with Illinois licence plates that was towing a small trailer.

Hastings Street was closed to traffic while police were on scene, and a large area was behind police tape.