A man was seriously injured after his car went down a steep embankment half-way up the hill on Rutherford Rd. Wednesday night. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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Man rescued after car crashes down steep Rutherford Rd. gully

Jul 29, 2020 | 9:10 PM

NANAIMO — A dramatic Wednesday evening crash on Rutherford Rd. saw the driver of a car lose control and propel down a steep embankment.

Nanaimo RCMP on scene said three people have unknown injuries and were taken to hospital as a result of the two vehicle incident.

It happened at around 7:45 p.m. when Tobi Johnson said the speeding and erratically driven vehicle passed hers heading up Rutherford Rd. near Oliver Rd.

“He hit the white van because he crossed the median, he went through the gate and repeatedly over,” Johnson said.

She pulled over and reported the incident.

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“I already called 911 when he passed the first vehicle. He was going so fast it worried me,” Johnson told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Members of Nanaimo Fire Rescue used a rope to stretcher the injured driver up the hill and into a waiting ambulance.

He was screaming in pain while being pulled up the steep bank.

Nanaimo Fire Rescue personnel tends to a seriously injured man after a crash off Rutherford Rd. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

His vehicle left a trail of destruction of trees and branches through a mangled chain-linked fence on the west side of Rutherford Rd.

Firefighters peeled back the vehicle’s roof in order to access the injured driver.

Traffic was blocked on the busy corridor and detours set up.

Neighours flocked to the scene after hearing the loud crash.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes