Impairment by drugs is suspected following a New Years Day crash on the Nanaimo Parkway (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW staff

serious injuries

Impairment suspected in severe New Years Day crash in Nanaimo

Jan 2, 2025 | 10:07 AM

NANAIMO — Two people were taken to hospital following a serious single vehicle crash on the Nanaimo Parkway New Years Day.

Nanaimo RCMP Res. Cst. Gary O’Brien said it happened Wednesday, Jan. 1 around 8:15 a.m. involving a northbound driver of a red Toyota Corolla veering off the road north of the Fifth St. intersection.

“For unknown reasons the vehicle went off the roadway right, there’s a steep embankment at that point, it struck a tree, spun and then came to a stop,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

He stated the 21-year-old driver from Nanaimo and 23-year-old out-of-town passenger were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Observations by police on-scene determined there were grounds to proceed with an impaired by drugs investigation, O’Brien noted.

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He said multiple witnesses told police how the vehicle came to rest down the embankment.

“The vehicle was a write-off. There was some lane closures for a while as the vehicle was removed.”

BC Emergency Health Services paramedics and Nanaimo Fire Rescue members also responded to the incident.

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