By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

‘They are heroes:’ bystanders save driver from fiery Hwy. 4 crash

Mar 12, 2019 | 12:01 PM

PORT ALBERNI — A group of motorists are being called heroes after a frightening, fiery crash on Hwy. 4.

Port Alberni Fire Dept. chief Mike Owen said a head-on collision between a pickup and SUV on top of the hump caused the truck to burst into flames, with the driver trapped inside.

Owen said three commuters, including the injured driver of the SUV, acted quickly to free the injured man from his truck.

“The driver of the SUV, as well as the bystanders, were absolutely the heroes in this situation. If not for them the driver of the pickup truck may not have survived the incident.”

Owen said the pickup driver was taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg and arm. He said the driver of the SUV was also hospitalized.

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“(She) went into the pickup truck and assisted to free the driver…while two bystanders worked to pull the driver free of the vehicle.”

Traffic in both direction re-opened just after 9 a.m. following a roughly 90-minute closure while the scene was cleared.

— with files from David Wiwchar, 93.3 The PEAK (CJAV-FM)

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