Police in Nanaimo have inlcuded speed and alcohol as factors in a crash that sent one man to hospital with serious injuries Sunday.
According to Nanaimo RCMP, shortly before midnight a 2006 Pontiac Montana occupied by a 43-year-old man who was driving and his female passenger, 41, was turning left from the old Island Highway onto 107th Street when it was struck broadside by a northbound 2009 Honda motorcycle driven by a 23-year-old man. All three crash victims are from Nanaimo.
“Police, fire and ambulance attended to the scene where the motorcyclist was treated and taken to local hospital and then flown to Victoria hospital where he remains with critical, live-threatening injuries,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
Both occupants of the Pontiac received relatively minor injuries, but were left traumatized by the incident, O’Brien said, and are being assisted by Nanaimo RCMP Victim Services.
The northbound lanes of the section of the Old Island Highway between 107th Street and Bowen Road was closed until 5 a.m. while RCMP collision analysts examined the crash site.
There were numerous witnesses to the crash, O’Brien said.
“Based on scene analysis and speaking to witnesses, investigators believe alcohol and speed were contributing factors on behalf of the motorcyclist and contributed to the crash,” O’Brien said.
Alcohol and drugs were ruled out for the driver of the minivan.
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