Nanaimo Fire Rescue douses a vehicle fire along the Nanaimo Parkway Saturday evening after a high-speed crash near the Dunster Rd. overpass. (submitted photo/Bradley Bullock)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

fatal crash

One person killed in fiery crash along Nanaimo Parkway

Aug 12, 2024 | 9:14 AM

NANAIMO — A high-speed crash has claimed the life of one person and sent smoke and flames high into the air.

The incident occurred just after 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10 along the Nanaimo Parkway between Aulds Rd. and Mostar Rd., near the Dunster Rd. overpass, and involved an SUV and a dark-coloured car.

Nanaimo RCMP Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW there was only the driver in each vehicle and it appears the crash occurred after the southbound car lost control.

“This vehicle crossed the median into oncoming traffic and collided with a northbound, dark-coloured SUV. The driver of the northbound SUV was transported to hospital but unfortunately died as a result of the injuries sustained as a result of the collision.”

O’Brien added the adult male driver of the car was also taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

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The crash saw at least one of the vehicles ignite, creating a large fire on the roadway.

RCMP are not releasing any names, ages or hometowns of the drivers involved in the incident.

Investigators closed both directions of the highway for several hours before gradually re-opening travel overnight Saturday.

(submitted photo/Bradley Bullock)

O’Brien said they’re collecting any and all evidence regarding the lead-up to the crash.

“Our members were on scene throughout the evening, which included an RCMP Collision Analyst. We spoke to a number of witnesses but we also know some people left the area and we need to speak with them.”

Police are particularly interested in any dash cam footage showing southbound vehicles between 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., from the Nanoose area along Hwy.19 to the crash site.

O’Brien also said it’s “too early to say” what contributing factors are related to the crash.

“We have a lot of work to do, that’s all we can say at this point. It’s very early in the investigation, we’re still collecting evidence, we’re looking at dash cam video. There’s a lot of factors we have to look at but we’re not at the point to say what causative factors were.”

Anyone with information related to the crash should contact the Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345, quoting file number 2024-25804.

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