One of member of Comox Fire Rescue remains is hospital in Victoria after a violent crash on the Trans-Canada Highway in Saanich on Thursday afternoon.
Comox Fire Chief Gord Schreiner says two members of his team and one from the Hornby Island Fire Department were returning from a conference in Victoria in a Comox Fire Rescue vehicle when the driver suffered a medical issue and lost control.
It happened around 4:45 p.m. in the northbound lanes, north of McKenzie Avenue.
The vehicle can be seen swerving into a roadside ditch before cutting back across two lanes of traffic and colliding with a cement barrier in the middle of the road, it then rolled over.
Comox Fire Rescue says the driver was taken to Royal Jubilee Hospital. He did not suffer any serious injuries and is alert but is being kept overnight for tests.
The two other firefighters were taken to hospital, treated and released.
“We are thankful that these people appear to be OK and we thank all the first responders (police, fire and ambulance) who attended to this accident and provided outstanding service,” said Chief Schreiner.
The highway was closed in both directions between McKenzie and Helmcken for more than half an hour as first responders worked to clear the scene.
Traffic heading in and out of Victoria ground to a halt and roads throughout he area were immediately clogged.
The highway was fully reopened around 6 p.m.
Ben O'Hara
