The Malahat highway was closed in both directions most of Thursday following a dramatic crash, then reopened at 7 p.m.
The crash occurred between Whittaker and Butterfield roads around 1 p.m., and a detour was set up via Shawnigan Lake Road, according to DriveBC.
Commuters tell CHEK News a gravel truck hit the median and flipped, then caught fire.
B.C. Emergency Health Services told CHEK News it dispatched two ambulances to the scene in the 1900-block of the Trans-Canada Highway.
One patient was treated at the scene and taken to hospital in stable condition, according to the BCEHS.
Story continues below.
⛔️#BCHwy1 – Highway remains closed near #Bamberton following a vehicle incident.
⚠️Estimated time of reopening is 8pm.
ℹ️ Alternate route available via Shawnigan Lake-Mill Bay Rd.
ℹ️ https://t.co/dt1jUTS8Nd#Malahat #MillBay #VanIsle #ShawniganLake #VancouverIsland https://t.co/WSX4ExaXdD— DriveBC (@DriveBC) September 29, 2023
Doyle Childs says he was near the area around 1 p.m., and when he got out of his car he heard someone yelling to bring a fire extinguisher. He asked a nearby truck driver to bring a fire extinguisher. The truck driver then brought the extinguisher to a man in a ball cap.
“The guy in the ball cap was actually the driver and he was trying to put out the flames,” Childs told CHEK News in a phone interview. “I stayed with the driver and tried to calm him down.”
Childs says he spoke with the driver who says he’s OK, before he was brought to hospital by ambulance.
He asked the driver what happened and he says the front tire blew and led to the crash.
Two BC Transit routes were also delayed by the crash.
A previous version of this story said the highway reopened around 6 p.m. In fact, the detour was still in place at that point. CHEK News regrets this error.
-
- Childs provided a fire extinguisher to the driver to help put out the fire. (Doyle Childs/submitted)
-
- Fire, police and ambulance were all called to the scene. (Doyle Childs/submitted)
-
- The fire was still active when fire crews arrived. (Doyle Childs/submitted)
-
- Doyle Childs says he spoke with the driver of the truck, who is OK. (Doyle Childs/submitted)
-
- Drivers reported seeing smoke from a distance. (PaddyColleen/submitted)
-
- Traffic was stopped in both directions due to the crash. (PaddyColleen/submitted)
-
- A gravel truck blew a tire which resulted in it crashing on the Malahat on Sept. 28, 2023. Gord Bull/submitted
-
- Gord Bull/submitted
CHEK News
