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Motorist chokes on breakfast, crashes on Trans-Canada Highway

A driver choking on his breakfast lost control of his pickup truck Thursday, jumping a median, striking another truck and ending up in a ditch.

A driver choking on his breakfast lost control of his pickup truck Thursday, jumping a median, striking another truck and ending up in a ditch.

The man was northbound on the Trans Canada Highway near Uptown when he began to choke on his coffee and doughnuts, said Saanich police Sgt. John Price.

Police believe the man was unconscious as he hopped the median and t-boned a southbound pickup truck. The man’s truck continued onto the sidewalk and grass, narrowly missing several trees, before landing in a ditch under the overpass at Carey Road.

Citizens rushed over to help the man and called 911.

“[The driver] doesn’t remember anything prior to crossing the median,” Price said.

Price said it was lucky no pedestrians or cyclists were in the southbound lane as the truck crossed.

The man was taken to hospital as a precaution but was not seriously injured.

Traffic was backed up while emergency crews responded to the scene but was clear by 9 a.m.

“It is a reminder, there’s all different ways to be distracted while driving — we see people drinking and eating,” Price said. “When you’re driving you should be driving.”