Three Island firefighters walked away from a dramatic crash with just cuts and bruises on Thursday, after the driver of a pickup suffered a medical emergency and lost control during rush-hour in Saanich.
A dashcam video of the crash shows the Comox Fire pickup veering from the left lane of the Trans-Canada Highway into the right, narrowly missing a white SUV.
The truck hits the shoulder before swerving back across both lanes, just missing a silver sedan. The pickup hits the barrier dividing the highway head on, causing it to spin around and flip onto its passenger side.
A series of screen grabs from a dash cam video courtesy Neil Fahlman, via CHEK News, shows what happened:
Driver Corey Brooks, a veteran Comox firefighter, suffered an unknown medical emergency as the truck was heading northbound on the highway just past the McKenzie intersection, said Comox Fire Capt. Robert Stevens.
His colleague Jim Lariviere was in the passenger seat and tried to gain control of the vehicle. A firefighter from Hornby Island Fire Rescue was in the back seat.
The crash shut down the highway in both directions for about half an hour.
All three men were able to walk away with cuts and bruises and no serious injuries, Stevens said.
“We’re just grateful they are generally OK,” he said.
Stevens said it’s still a mystery as to what caused Brooks to black out.
“He’s one of our fittest guys and our biggest advocate of fitness, so this is quite a shock,” he said.
The three were heading home from the B.C. Fire Chiefs Association conference in Victoria when the crash happened.
Stevens said it’s lucky the truck lost control on a section of highway divided by a concrete barrier, as the situation could have been much worse had the truck gone into oncoming traffic.
“The potential was catastrophic,” he said. “It does help you appreciate those barriers and the importance of the safety features that are on our highways.”
Comox Fire has received calls from fire departments across Canada sending well wishes.
Lariviere is now home with his family, while Brooks is on his way home, Stevens said.
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UPDATE: The Trans-Canada has reopened following a two-car crash. Expect delays.
We've opened up traffic at McKenzie/Trans-Canada Highway. Expect delays due to the heavy congestion though #yyjtraffic
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) June 8, 2018
UPDATE - #BCHwy1 at Mackenzie Ave in #Saanich both EB and WB right lanes are now OPEN following a vehicle incident. Expect heavy delays.
— Drive BC (@DriveBC) June 8, 2018
A two-car crash during the evening rush hour shut down the Trans-Canada Highway in both directions on Thursday evening.
The crash happened about 5 p.m. in the lanes heading away from Victoria, north of McKenzie Avenue.
One vehicle rolled over.
Saanich police and Saanich fire are on scene dealing with unknown injuries.
#BCHwy1 is CLOSED at Mackenzie Ave in #Saanich due to a vehicle incident. Crews en route. Expect heavy delays.
— DriveBC VI (@DriveBC_VI) June 8, 2018
Pless avoid Trans-Canada Highway/McKenzie Ave #yyjtraffic. We're dealing with a roll over crash and traffic is shut down in all directions. No ETA at re-opening at this point.
— Saanich Police (@SaanichPolice) June 8, 2018
