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Icy roads blamed for early morning crash

NANAIMO – Road conditions described as "so treacherous, first responders had difficulty stopping safely at the scene of accident."

A seatbelt is credited with sparing a 24-year-old woman from serious injury after she lost control of her vehicle on ice Tuesday morning.

Nanaimo RCMP said the crash happened on Norwell Drive near 104th St. shortly after 6 a.m. as the woman was driving to work in her older model Toyota, which spun out and struck a utility pole.

The impact knocked the woman unconscious for more than 10 minutes as firefighters used the Jaws of Life to extract her from the wreck.

According to police, road conditions were so treacherous, first responders also had difficulty stopping safely at the scene of the accident.

The victim regained consciousness at the scene and was taken to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital to be treated for what police described as non-life threatening facial injuries.

"The cold spell is expected to remain for the next couple of days and with that, icy roads should be considered the norm," said Const. Gary O'Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, in a press release. "Motorists are advised to drive with caution, reduce their speed and leave sufficient space between them and the vehicle travelling in front."