A pedestrian suffered serious injuries on Thursday (Nov. 7) after a car jumped the curb and rolled over in front of the Service BC building on Eighth Avenue in Port Alberni.
The driver of the vehicle, a black Nissan Maxima, was also sent to hospital with minor injuries.
The incident occurred at 8:30 a.m. when the driver of the Maxima, a 78-year-old Port Alberni resident, was attempting to angle park in front of the building in the 4000-block of Eighth Avenue. Her vehicle suddenly surged forward, striking the pedestrian and a cement garbage container before coming to rest on its side by the building’s entrance.
The pedestrian, a 47-year-old man from North Saanich, was walking by the building and attempted to jump out of the car’s path. He suffered serious but non life-threatening injuries and was taken to West Coast General Hospital by ambulance.
Port Alberni Fire Department firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to extricate the driver, who was also taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Drugs and alcohol have been ruled out as factors in the crash, but RCMP are still investigating, Port Alberni RCMP Cpl. Amelia Hayden said. No charges have been laid at this time.
