Nanaimo and Ladysmith RCMP are reviewing the actions of a driver who witnesses says blew multiple red lights and hit a car head-on near Nanaimo Airport on Saturday, Aug. 2 at about 7 p.m. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

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NANAIMO — Police say a head-on crash caused by a highly aggressive driver on the Trans-Canada Highway in Cassidy near Nanaimo Airport could have turned out much worse.

Two injured occupants of a car were taken to hospital after witnesses reported a speeding southbound truck ran the red light at the Timberlands Rd. intersection and hit a Nissan Sentra on Saturday, Aug. 2, around 7 p.m.

According to Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Sherri Wade, the lone operator of a dark blue Dodge Ram 1500 pickup continued south in the northbound lanes of the divided highway and crashed into the centre median.

“It’s unfathomable how much damage could have been done with that kind of driving and that kind of vehicle,” Wade told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Wade said the driver, a 28-year-old man from Yellowhead County west of Edmonton, AB, was quickly arrested by police after running from his damaged truck.

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Several witnesses began reporting the driver of the Dodge Ram on Bowen Rd. heading toward the city’s Harewood neighbourhood, swerving onto sidewalks and road shoulders.

One vehicle may have been struck at the Trans Canada Hwy./Tenth St. Intersection, while Wade said a car was confirmed to have been hit south of the Morden Rd. intersection.

Multiple red lights were ignored by the offending driver, multiple witnesses reported.

“We don’t know when the aggressive driving started. We started getting calls on Bowen, so we don’t actually know where the truck came from before that, so we’re looking for help to build the investigation,” Wade said.

Police are hoping the public can help track the suspect vehicle’s movements on Aug. 2 along Bowen Rd., Bruce Ave and Tenth St. between 6:40 p.m. and 6:50 p.m.

Numerous Good Samaritans have assisted in the ongoing investigation, Wade noted.

In particular, Wade pointed out the efforts of a motorist who safely followed the suspect driver from the Tenth St. intersection to near the crash scene, providing valuable details.

“If someone gets too engaged, they could put themselves at risk if they’re mimicking the dangerous driving behaviour,” Wade said. “This person was following the rules of the road but was able to give us a lot of good information.”

The suspect vehicle has Alberta license plates CGJ3555, whose operator was arrested for dangerous driving causing bodily harm.

Since the high-impact crash occurred out of Nanaimo RCMP’s jurisdiction, the Ladysmith detachment is investigating the Hwy. 1/Timberlands Rd. collision, while Nanaimo Mounties are reviewing what occurred up until that point.

NanaimoNewsNOW reached out to Ladysmith RCMP to discern if charges had been laid against the driver and his custodial status.

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