A Honda Civic was crushed underneath a semi-truck trailer following a collision on Departure Bay Road on Monday night.
The accident occurred at 9:10 p.m. behind Brooks Landing shopping centre. Members from Nanaimo Fire Rescue, Nanaimo RCMP and B.C. Ambulance Service were all on scene.
An RCMP officer on scene told the News Bulletin the driver of the car fled the scene.
One southbound and northbound lane were closed as a result of the accident as crews worked to clear the scene. Southbound vehicles were rerouted through Brooks Landing.
Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, told the News Bulletin on Tuesday morning that police are still searching for the driver of the Honda Civic. He said the registered owner of the Civic was contacted and received a ticket for failing to remain at the scene of an accident.
“The registered owner denied any involvement and we cannot determine who was driving the vehicle at the time,” he said. “What we do know is the driver of the vehicle fled.”
O’Brien said the semi-truck driver was having a hard time turning the corner when the accident happened. He said the truck driver remained on scene and actually spoke to driver of the Civic, who fled the scene after being freed by a passerby.
“Another passerby actually opened the rear door to allow him out and then he ran away,” O’Brien said.
According to O’Brien, the Civic was not reported stolen.
“There is nothing to indicate that it was stolen … but if the registered owner is saying he didn’t know what was going on then somebody was obviously driving his vehicle, but he hasn’t helped us connect the dots,” O’Brien said.
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