A cyclist from Minnesota was taken to hospital after being hit by a black pickup truck along Hwy. 19 late Friday morning. His riding partner said he was conscious and alert leaving the scene. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

SERIOUS ACCIDENT

Cyclist hit & air-lifted to hospital after Hwy. 19 truck collision

May 27, 2022 | 11:45 AM

NANAIMO — One person was airlifted from the scene of an accident just north of the city.

A 70-year-old male cyclist riding northbound with a partner, was hit by a vehicle on Hwy. 19, between the intersection with Hwy. 19A and the ‘Nanaimo’ sign around 11:20 a.m. on Friday, May 27.

The victim’s riding partner told NanaimoNewsNOW he and his friend from the Minneapolis, Minnesota area are on a cross-Canada biking trip. They were en-route to Port Hardy to take a ferry to Prince Rupert at the time of the crash.

He added he was ahead of his friend when the accident occurred, which saw the victim’s bike wedged underneath the front of a black pickup truck.

Nanaimo RCMP investigators on scene were told by witnesses the cyclist was attempting to merge with traffic on the right side of the highway when they were hit by a truck.

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An off-duty paramedic and nurse provided first aid until on-duty help was able to arrive.

The rider was conscious and alert as he was tended to by paramedics and eventually loaded into an air ambulance for transport to Victoria with serious injuries.

The collision forced the closure of Hwy. 19 for in both directions briefly, however southbound traffic re-opened shortly after. Northbound vehicles were being re-routed through Lantzville with the highway re-opening around 2:30 p.m.

A preliminary investigation has ruled out drugs and alcohol as contributing factors and police say the driver of the black pickup truck remained at the scene and cooperated with officers.

Paramedics load a male cyclist onto a BC EHS air ambulance following a collision with a truck on Hwy. 19 Friday morning. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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