Police in Oceanside are investigating the circumstances behind a crash along the Alberni Hwy. Thursday night which claimed the life of a 36-year-old man. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

no witnesses

‘Left with a lot of questions:’ Oceanside RCMP investigating fatal highway crash

Jan 31, 2025 | 12:55 PM

COOMBS — A 36-year-old man died following a single-vehicle crash on the Alberni Hwy just west of the village core in Coombs.

On Thursday, Jan. 30 at about 8 p.m., the man was driving his green Dodge pickup truck west on Hwy. 4A when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway to the right near Coombs Rd., went down a steep embankment and rolled onto its roof.

Oceanside RCMP Sgt. Shane Worth said the driver and lone occupant was treated on scene, taken to hospital with critical injuries but passed away later in the evening.

“The crash itself at this time appears to be unwitnessed. We did speak to some people at the scene, who saw the aftermath of the crash, however investigators have yet to identify any direct witnesses to the crash.”

Worth said the highway was closed for several hours until after 11 p.m., while forensic analysts attended the scene.

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He added it’s a challenging situation with the victim dying of their injuries and apparently no other witnesses.

“Investigators are left with a lot of questions as to what happened leading up to the crash. Our collision analyst and reconstructionist team did attend…we can get some answers as to sort of what was happening somewhat before the crash with that forensic analysis.”

Police are asking anyone who was driving along Hwy. 4A prior to the incident and may have seen the truck to come forward, especially if they have dash-cam footage of the vehicle.

Mounties are not releasing any additional information about the man, including his name or hometown.

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