Oak Bay police say that hitting a tree kept an allegedly impaired 19-year-old driver and his passenger from ending up down an embankment and in the ocean at Queen’s Park early today.
Both he and the passenger had only minor injuries from the 2 a.m. crash. Police suspect the driver was impaired by an unspecified drug, other than marijuana or alcohol.
“Being under the influence of drugs and being in a car in the ocean with airbags deployed, etc. could certainly end tragically,” said Oak Bay Deputy Police Chief Ray Bernoties.
Queen’s Park is on Beach Drive at the foot of Windsor Road.
“This young man is so lucky that he didn’t kill someone,” Bernoties said.
Still, the man “has just dramatically changed his life’s trajectory,” because of the incident, he said.
He said the same car had been the subject of an earlier call from someone concerned the driver was impaired.
Bernoties said that a $20 cab ride is all it takes to avoid driving under the influence.
