A fatal two-vehicle-collision occurred on the Pacific Rim Highway near the West Coast Junction on Monday night.
Sgt. Jeff Swann of the Ucluelet RCMP told the Westerly News that a man driving a pickup truck collided with a motorhome and died in the ensuing flames.
The man was reportedly driving erratically and passing cars while traveling south from Tofino towards Ucluelet.
“He crossed the centre line and struck the motorhome head–on,” Swann said.
Swann said bystanders were unable to free the man from his truck after the crash.
“Several people tried to get him out but he was trapped in the vehicle,” he said. “Both vehicles caught fire and both were destroyed by fire…It was pretty quick, within a minute the flames had already started.”
He said the motorhome’s two passengers escaped the scene relatively unharmed and are currently receiving treatment at the Tofino General Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The deceased man’s identity is not yet known.
Swann said both lanes of the highway will remain closed until at least 9 p.m. though an alternate route has been set up through logging roads to help travelers get in and out of Tofino.
“Parks Canada is assisting with that, they’ve got it flagged and marked,” he said.
The BC Coroners Service is expected to arrive around 6 p.m. and an investigation into the incident is ongoing.
andrew.bailey@westerlynews.ca
