A 19-year-old man is expected to survive what police are calling “a very bad accident” outside Parksville on Sunday evening.
The man remains in Victoria General Hospital, where he was airlifted from Nanaimo.
Central Vancouver Island Traffic Services (CVITS) Cpl. Mike Elston explained an accident at approximately 5 p.m. sent two drivers to hospital in Nanaimo — one who was later airlifted to Victoria — while traffic was stalled for hours.
“It was a significant accident,” Elston told The NEWS Tuesday afternoon. “(The driver) is lucky to have survived.”
He said no passengers were involved and both vehicles sustained major damage. The incident is under police investigation. Elston said police are currently speaking with witnesses and working with a collision deconstructionist.
According to a news release issued by Oceanside RCMP, a vehicle travelling southbound on Highway 19 appeared to cross the centre lawn median one kilometre north of the Englishman River.
The vehicle collided with a truck heading northbound towing a camper. Due to the impact of the collision, the truck and camper rolled over onto its roof.
Both the driver of the vehicle, the 19-year-old male, and the driver of the truck, a 59-year-old Victoria male were rushed to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital by ambulance. The driver of the truck was released with minor injuries.
Police said they have ruled out alcohol as a contributing factor in the collision.
