A multi-vehicle crash on the Malahat caused lane closures and traffic tie ups over the lunch hour on Monday.
Emergency services including Mill Bay Fire Department responded around 11:45 a.m. after the driver of a pick-up lost control and then crashed into three other vehicles.
Police say the truck appears to have lost a tire right before the crash.
The vehicle was traveling southbound at the time but wound up in the northbound lanes.
“The driver had a critical mechanical failure which caused him to lose a tire which then sent him into oncoming traffic in the northbound lanes causing two more vehicles to be struck and his tire impacting a fourth vehicle,” said Const. Ian Wetzel-Eden of Shawnigan Lake RCMP”
“Fortunately, injuries were fairly minor, some people were taken to hospital for treatment. ”
RCMP says the vehicles were all traveling slowly through a construction zone and that likely prevented a more serious outcome.
All lanes on the busy highway were closed briefly before one lane was reopened in each direction around noon
The crash was cleared away just after 1 p.m.
Ben O'Hara
