Early morning highway crash in Lantzville claims two lives

LANTZVILLE — Two people were killed in an early-morning collision along Hwy. 19, near Ware Rd., involving an impaired driver.

First responders, including from Lantzville Fire Rescue, BC Emergency Health Services, and Nanaimo RCMP were called to near the intersection just after 3 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 27, after a two-vehicle crash.

BC Highway Patrol Sgt. Michael McLaughlin said a 16-year-old girl from Nanaimo was seen driving the wrong way on the highway shortly before the incident.

“Police have already spoken to multiple witnesses who say that the blue Kia minivan was driving north in the southbound lanes at the time of the collision. We need to speak to more witnesses and gather more video to confirm the exact sequence of events.”