Nanaimo cyclist struck by unattended truck that rolled out of driveway

CHEK
A vehicle that was left running to warm up in a driveway rolled and hit a cyclist on Dec. 16, 2022.

A cyclist suffered non-life-threatening injuries after he was struck by a truck that rolled out of a driveway in Nanaimo.

The owner of the truck told CHEK News the vehicle was running to warm up and a dog had been left in the truck.

When the owner was in his garage, he turned around and saw the truck, which is a standard transmission, rolling out of the driveway in the 100-block of Finlayson Street.

He says the emergency brake was applied at the time. R/Const. Gary O’Brien with Nanaimo RCMP says the brakes on the truck failed.

Troy Libbus, assistant fire chief with Nanaimo Fire Rescue, says the 34-year-old cyclist got trapped under the truck, and pedestrians helped jack up the truck and free him.

“The people today, they did all the right things, they called 911 immediately, and three of them all worked together to stabilize the vehicle. They chocked the tires and jacked up the truck to free the individual,” Libbus said.

“I do want to remind the public that it is a hazardous scene making that 911 call is the utmost importance so our crews can get here and stabilize the scene and make everything safe.”

However, Libbus says in similar situations it’s important to be cautious stepping in as you can accidentally cause more injuries to a person in this situation if something goes wrong.

O’Brien says the cyclist has a shoulder injury and should be released from the hospital soon.

Stephanie Nathanson says she was driving to work this morning when she saw the accident, so she pulled over and called 911.

“I parked across the street and called 911,” Nathanson told CHEK News. “I noticed there were a few other people who live nearby and the owner of the truck on scene helping the person so I stayed from a distance for a little while while I updated 911 on what I saw.”

She says the man’s backpack had to be cut off him, and that he was talking but sounded like he was in pain while being loaded into the ambulance.

O’Brien says there will be no charges filed in this case.

-With files from CHEK’s Kendall Hanson

Laura BroughamLaura Brougham

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