The driver of a green pickup truck has caused thousands of dollars in damage, with several vehicles destroyed, in a crash where police believe drugs to be a contributing factor. (submitted photo)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

early morning crash

Drugs suspected as contributing factor in early morning crash off Hwy. 19A

Oct 9, 2021 | 12:52 PM

NANAIMO — The driver of a pickup truck remains in police custody after an early morning crash adjacent to the Island Hwy.

Nanaimo RCMP were called to a scene at the north end of Highland Blvd., near the Nanaimo Golf Club, around 3 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 9 where a green Chevy pickup truck had crashed into multiple vehicles parked on the side of the road.

Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the pickup was travelling northbound on Hwy. 19A before veering off onto Highland Blvd.

“When we arrived on the scene, the driver was actually removing himself from his vehicle through a broken window, he was taken into custody. We saw at least five vehicles destroyed with eight, possibly more that were struck by the pickup.”

Drugs are believed to be a contributing factor with the driver losing control of their vehicle before running out of momentum and getting wedged into another car, which brought the rampage to a halt.

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The 43-year-old Nanaimo man is being held in police custody, potentially over the Thanksgiving long weekend, until a court date early next week.

O’Brien said the man had five outstanding arrest warrants, including one for an assault in March and four for failing to attend a court hearing.

Area residents were awoken by a multi-vehicle crash on Highland Blvd. in the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 9. (submitted photo)

No charges have been laid against him, however an investigation into the incident continues.

“We have a lot of work to do, mechanical inspections, talking to witnesses, possibly any dash cam video and evidence from the driver. It’s very preliminary but the individual is looking at multiple charges and there’s thousands of dollars of damage which occurred.”

A woman named Fae, who requested her last name not be used, was visiting a friend in the nearby apartments on Highland Blvd. at the time of the crash.

“It looked like [the truck] came barrelling off the highway and slammed into all the parked cars,” she told NanaimoNewsNOW. “It was awful. People we trying to wake the driver of the truck up, he at some point moved himself to the passenger seat.”

Witnesses were able to prevent the man from leaving the area, according to Fae.

“The truck landed in the visitor parking and a couple had just got out of their car, maybe 20 seconds before and the truck came and almost hit them.”

No-one was injured in the incident.

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