
Speed and alcohol are possible contributing factors in a two-vehicle crash that left a woman dead on the Trans-Canada Highway south of Nanaimo Thursday night, according to police.
The crash occurred just before 9 p.m. on the highway at the intersection of Cranberry Avenue.
According to witnesses, the woman, 74, was legally turning left from Cranbberry Avenue onto the highway when her Chevrolet Aveo was T-boned by a Dodge Ram pickup truck.
The pickup truck was heading southbound and witnesses told police it appeared to be travelling at a high rate of speed, not stopping for the red light.
The woman was pronounced dead at the scene and the man was taken to Nanaimo hospital, then airlifted to Victoria for serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Alcohol and speed are believe to be contributing factors in the crash, said Const. Gary O’Brien of Nanaimo RCMP.
The highway at Cranberry Avenue was shut down for about six hours while a collision analyst processed the scene.
Both vehicles will undergo mechanical inspections.
Police are looking for any dashcam video of the incident. Those with information are asked to call 250-754-2345 and quote file number 2021-18403.