Speed might have been a factor in a crash on Shawnigan Lake Road that killed a nine-year-old girl on Sunday morning, police said. An RCMP South Island traffic team continues to investigate the crash.
The investigation has determined the car was travelling north when the driver lost control and struck a utility pole near Shawnigan Lake Road.
The 49-year-old driver, believed to be the girl’s father, suffered minor injuries.
Sooke school district superintendent Jim Cambridge said critical-incident counsellors were on hand at the girl’s elementary school on Monday to support any students who are grieving.
“There were a number of students who met with counsellors today,” Cambridge said.
There were also teachers on call to take over for teachers who found it too emotional to teach, he said.
Shawnigan Lake Road residents have raised concerns about speed and road conditions in the area.
The crash occurred in front of Kaitlyn Bogas’s former home in the 1300-block of Shawnigan Lake Road.
She said a sign at the site of the crash indicates the beginning of a 50 km/h speed limit. But by that time, northbound vehicles are travelling at 60 or 70 km/h, she said.
The 50 km/h limit should begin about 500 metres to the south, before the Sooke Lake Road intersection, Bogas said.
“It would be so much safer if that 50 km/h sign were pushed back to Sooke Lake Road,” she said. “It twist and turns, it’s blind corners and it undulates. By the time you hit the slow to 50 km/h sign, you’re in the curves.”
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said in a statement that it will work with law enforcement in investigating the fatality.
“We were all sad to hear of the tragic accident [Sunday] and our hearts go out to the victim’s family and friends,” the ministry said.
“Once the details are understood, we can use this information to identify if there are opportunities to improve safety at this location, including where the transition from 60 km/h to 50 km/h starts.”
Anyone with any information about the crash is asked to contact Shawnigan Lake RCMP at 250-743-5514.
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