A tow truck carrying a car that had been involved in a rollover crash Saturday was struck head-on by an impaired driver minutes after leaving the first crash scene.
The first crash happened at 1:30 p.m. on West Saanich Road near Hartland Avenue. A elderly woman in a Toyota Venza went off road, struck a tree and flipped her car onto its roof. She was not seriously injured. Police say she claims to have fallen asleep at the wheel.
The truck that was towing the Venza was travelling southbound on Interurban Road around 3 p.m. when a Hyundai Elantra crossed into the oncoming lane and hit the tow truck head-on.
Saanich fire crews had to use the Jaws of Life to extract the Elantra driver, who was subsequently taken to hospital with serious injuries. The tow truck driver received minor injuries.
“There’s a belief that the male may have been under the influence of a drug. We’re following further investigative steps to look into that,” said Saanich police Sgt. Steve Eassie.
Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the second crash and haven’t yet spoken to police to call 250-475-4321.
kslavin@saanichnews.com
