A Nanaimo man was airlifted to Victoria General Hospital after his motorized wheelchair collided with a pickup truck Tuesday.
The crash happened at about 5:10 p.m. at the Poplar Street and old Island Highway intersection.
Witnesses told police the wheelchair appeared to suddenly swerve into oncoming traffic and was hit by a northbound pickup truck driven by a 59-year-old man from Duncan.
Police said the 62-year-old man in the wheelchair suffered life-threatening injuries and was rushed to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital before being airlifted to Victoria. Police did not have an update on the victim’s condition available before press time Wednesday.
The driver of the pickup was not injured and is co-operating with police.
“Speed and alcohol have been ruled out, but weather was a contributing factor and the investigation is continuing,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman.
It was raining, roads were wet and slippery, and visibility was limited at the time of the collision.
Sections of the old Island Highway and Poplar Street were closed for several hours as Nanaimo RCMP and traffic analysts investigated the scene.