A vehicle travelling south along Nicol St. lost control through the Needham St. intersection and drove into a nearby business parking lot. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

scary incident

VIDEO: Driver flees after fiery crash through south Nanaimo business

Aug 24, 2022 | 10:10 AM

NANAIMO — A spectacular crash along Nicol St. has investigators searching for a man who fled on foot.

A silver Volvo hatchback was travelling southbound at a high rate of speed on Nicol St. while approaching the Needham St. intersection around 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 23. It lost control, crossed the highway and broke through a metal gate, crashing about five feet down a ledge amid a ball of flames.

Reserve Cst. Gary O’Brien said the vehicle came to a rest on its side in the parking lot of the Express Care Oil Change as bystanders came rushing in to assist.

“Fortunately there was a car driving by through the car wash, and that vehicle almost struck that one, so it’s very close. But no secondary injuries, and we’re certainly going to follow up with the registered owner of the vehicle.”

O’Brien said witnesses saw the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle, described as a heavy-set, barefooted male, leave the vehicle and flee east towards Haliburton St.

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Witnesses to the crash told NanaimoNewsNOW two other vehicles, both trucks, stopped briefly before leaving or drove right by the scene. Several others stopped to assist.

Police weren’t able to confirm whether they were involved at all prior to the incident.

A silver Volvo came to a rest between two vacuum stations at the Express Care Quick Lube on Nicol St. after crashing through the metal barrier and catching fire. The fire was contained to a small section of grass. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The grass next to the sidewalk along Nicol St. briefly caught fire, but there was no apparent damage to the business itself.

Once Nanaimo Fire Rescue crews were on scene they were able to quickly put out the fire, which didn’t appear to spread to the vehicle.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345 and quote file number 2022-29605.

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