Southbound traffic along Hwy. 19 in Nanoose Bay was shutdown Thursday morning for a multi-vehicle incident when a medivan collided into a concrete barrier and into oncoming traffic near the Petro Canada service station. (submitted/Mark Milligan)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

MORNING CRASH

Slick roads believed to be factor in morning rollover, multi-vehicle highway crash

Aug 6, 2020 | 9:39 AM

NANOOSE — Several drivers suffered non-life threatening injuries as a result of morning crash on Hwy. 19.

Emergency crews responded around 5:15 a.m. Thursday morning to the scene along the highway, near NW Bay Rd. in Nanoose.

A medivan travelling along the highway lost control, hit a concrete barrier and went into the oncoming lane, according to Oceanside RCMP. The concrete barriers caused a chain reaction with two other vehicles.

“These barriers went into the westbound lanes and the drivers were distracted by the ambulance that was on its side,” Cst. Mark Maddex, Oceanside RCMP, told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Due to the poor weather conditions and low light, they weren’t aware the barriers were pushed into their lane.”

The highway was briefly shutdown in one direction while limited to single lane in the other as crews worked and police conducted an investigation.

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Overnight rains and low light are believed to be the primary cause behind the crash.

“People get comfortable with driving in the dry weather conditions, the roads get a little bit oily, we get a heavy downpour and the roads are very, very slippery,” Cst. Maddex said.

Emergency crews were on scene for around three hours. The driver of the medivan was taken to hospital for their injuries.

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