A black Audi crashed along Hwy. 1 near Morden Rd., and burst into flames on Sunday, Nov. 2, killing an 18-year-old passenger. (BC Highway Patrol)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

vehicle of interest

Police locate vehicle potentially connected to fatal Hwy. 1 crash south of Nanaimo

Nov 7, 2025 | 10:59 AM

NANAIMO — Investigators with B.C. Highway Patrol have located a vehicle, as well as its occupants, potentially connected to a fatal crash last weekend.

An 18-year-old man, identified by family as Rhys Edwards, was killed late Sunday, Nov. 2 along Hwy. 1 near Morden Rd., when the vehicle he was a passenger in lost control, crashed and burst into flames.

Mounties said at the time they were looking for a black sedan, possibly a Honda Civic, which was seen driving “very closely” to the car before it lost control.

“Both occupants of the Honda Civic who were in the area are cooperating with police,” Cpl. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol, said. “There is a lot of community chatter about this incident, and we are looking for more witnesses and video to establish exactly what happened.”

Witnesses to the crash told police the Civic did not stop at the crash site, and kept driving after the incident.

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It’s not clear how, if at all, they were involved.

Next steps for police are to further establish a timeline of events leading up to the incident, with McLaughlin noting “surveillance video is providing particularly useful.”

“These investigations are highly technical and take a long time, but with continued help from the public, we will solve this.”

Edwards was a popular lacrosse player in the Parksville-Qualicum Beach area, playing on a local junior B team.

A gathering of friends and family was held at Harewood Centennial Park on Wednesday, with a memorial remaining on site.

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