By Dominic Abassi

Distracting bush fire causes fatal crash on Nanaimo Parkway

Jul 14, 2018 | 11:03 AM

NANAIMO — A man is dead after a bush fire caused a serious crash on the Nanaimo Parkway.

Nanaimo RCMP Cst. Gary O’Brien said southbound traffic was slowing and stopping around 10 p.m. Friday because of a bush fire on the northbound side of the highway between Mostar and Aulds Rd.

“A motorcyclist, for whatever reason, didn’t yield to the traffic that was stopping and ran into the back of an SUV. He was pronounced dead at the scene,” O’Brien told NanaimoNewsNOW.

O’Brien noted he was not aware of any reason for southbound traffic to have stopped on the highway except to look at the bush fire on the opposite side.

The southbound lanes were closed at Aulds until 4:30 a.m. Saturday as collision reconstructionists investigated the scene.

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Meanwhile, Nanaimo Fire Rescue said they were still investigating the cause of the bush fire.

Deputy chief Tim Doyle said it was a relatively minor fire and their crews handled it easily. He said a discarded cigarette butt or a vehicle-related issue are both being explored as possible causes.

The northbound lanes were also closed until about 12 a.m.

dom@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @domabassi