A semi truck rolled on the Nanaimo Parkway early Friday afternoon, spilling its load over the road way and cutting southbound traffic. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

major crash

Dump truck rolls on Nanaimo Parkway with fuel and food waste spilling

Mar 3, 2023 | 12:47 PM

NANAIMO — A large semi-trailer carrying organic food waste overturned while travelling on the Nanaimo Parkway’s southbound lanes.

Emergency crews including Nanaimo Fire Rescue (NFR) and paramedics BC Emergency Health Services were called to near the East Wellington Rd. overpass on Friday, March 3 at about 12:20 p.m.

NFR capt. Chad Porter said on scene, one person was inside the truck at the time.

“We located a single vehicle, a tractor trailer dump truck, it had a single occupant inside. The gentleman was conscious upon our arrival, we extricated the front window and removed him safely from the vehicle.”

He was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital with minor injuries.

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Nanaimo RCMP confirmed to NanaimoNewsNOW the driver had a medical issue which caused him to lose control of the truck.

A considerable amount of organic food waste spilled from the truck after it rolled on the Parkway. (Chelsea Cavanagh/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A significant load of organic food waste spilled onto the roadway after the vehicles slammed into several ditch-side barriers.

Southbound traffic was closed for a considerable amount of time, with vehicles eventually being directed down Northfield Rd. to bypass the scene.

Those closer to the incident were directed down a northbound lane to Jingle Pot Rd.

A fuel spill also resulted from the crash, which caused extensive damage to the truck.

“A significant amount of diesel fuel was released as a result the incident and Environment Canada has been notified,” Porter told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Booming and padding has been put in place to manage the run off into the creek water, which is located below that vehicle.”

Witnesses on scene reported smelling both burning oil and garbage after the truck rolled. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Northbound traffic was slower but unaffected by the incident.

Cleanup of the area was expected to take several hours according to Porter.

No other vehicles were involved.

Concrete barrires just north of the truck’s resting point were smashed through. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Traffic was blocked for southbound drivers on the Nanaimo Parkway Friday afternoon after a truck rolled and spilled its load. (Chelsea Cavanagh/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A man was tended to on scene by paramedics. (Chelsea Cavanagh/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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