Police say a vehicle crossed the highway median, leading to the three-vehicle crash that closed the Nanaimo Parkway for two and a half hours yesterday.
Ambulance, firefighters and RCMP were on scene at the crash, which happened at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, near the Northfield Road intersection, and completely shut down northbound lanes.
A Toyota truck, Mazda sports-utility vehicle and a Jeep were damaged in the crash and three people were transported to hospital with injuries, according to Colin Fergusson, acting captain with Nanaimo Fire Rescue.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, the Mazda travelling in the southbound lane, crossed the median south of Northfield Road and struck the northbound Toyota truck, which caused the truck to collide with the Jeep that was also travelling north. The Mazda caught fire and was quickly extinguished by a passing motorist.
Police are grateful that a motorist was carrying a fire extinguisher and stopped to assist. The situation may have been much worse without this,
said Sgt. Jon Stuart, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a press release.
He said it is unclear why the Mazda crossed the median and police continue to investigate.
Fergusson said the occupant of the Mazda was freed and the drivers of the truck and Jeep were both able to make it out of their vehicles and all three were taken to hospital, he said.
“Both the driver of the Mazda and the driver of the [Toyota], RCMP wanted to ensure that they were both stable at the hospital and there was no severe, life-threatening injuries before they conducted a more intensive investigation,” said Fergusson.”
For past coverage of car crashes in the region, click this link.
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