Hwy. 19 long weekend traffic was snarled for southbound commuters due to a late Monday, Sept. 2 afternoon crash. (Submitted photo)
Serious crash

Man seriously hurt in north Nanaimo motorcycle crash

Sep 3, 2019 | 2:19 AM

NANAIMO — A motorcycle rider is in serious condition after he was thrown from his bike in a crash on Hwy. 19 in north Nanaimo.

RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said the motorcyclist rear-ended a tour bus on Monday, Sept. 2 just after 5 p.m. in the southbound lanes near the Welcome to Nanaimo sign.

“He was later airlifted to Victoria General Hospital where he’s considered stable with non-life threatening injuries,” O’Brien said of the out-of-province 56-year-old man with extensive injuries.

The older model Harley Davidson went up in flames and was destroyed, O’Brien said.

Southbound traffic was closed for several hours as a result of the incident. The traffic delay was compounded by an existing significant slowdown in the Nanoose area after a tree fell on power lines.

The incident marked the second serious collision in five days in the same area, with both incidents requiring an air ambulance and highway closures.

Four people were injured on Wednesday, Aug. 28 when police said a semi-truck apparently rear-ended a car on Hwy. 19 at Ware Rd.

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