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Driver flees scene after car wedged under semi-truck in Nanaimo

Dec 19, 2017 | 12:21 PM

NANAIMO — Police in Nanaimo faced curious circumstances after a driver took off from the scene of a jaw-dropping crash.

A car slammed into and became wedged underneath a tractor trailer as the truck was pulling out of Brooks Landing onto Departure Bay Rd. around 9 p.m. on Monday.

Nanaimo RCMP Const. Gary O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW the driver of the car took off. While police tracked down the vehicle’s registered owner shortly after, O’Brien said the man denied being behind the wheel at the time.

“One might think the registered owner should know where his vehicle is but we aren’t able to establish the registered owner being the driver of the car.”

The man was ticketed for failing to remain at the scene of an accident because he was the vehicle’s owner. O’Brien said at this point Mounties don’t have enough to continue their investigation.

“We’re satisfied a Motor Vehicle Act ticket was issued to the registered owner and unless we have further information which can put him in that vehicle, there’s not much more we can do at this point.”

He said whoever was driving the car should consider buying a lottery ticket.

“Just by the grace of God they weren’t injured. The car was actually stuck underneath the semi, whether it’s inattention or some other factors came into play. They survived a potentially life threatening situation.”

Departure Bay Rd. was closed in one direction and down to a single-lane the other way for several hours while crews worked to get the car out from under the truck. Motorists slowed down, many with their mouths open in awe, to check out the wreckage and snap pictures.

 

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi