Police are asking the public for help in finding a driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash that happened in Chemainus Sunday night.
It happened around 7:30 p.m. in the 9900-block of Chemainus Road, at the entrance to Station Ridge Estates.
The pedestrian was killed immediately after being struck and the driver left the scene before police arrived.
North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP say it was around 7:30 Sunday night when they were called to a pedestrian that had been struck.
“They located a man that had been deceased but the driver and vehicle were no longer there and they believed the driver had fled the scene,” said Cpl. Chris Manseau of Island District RCMP. “Right now investigators are working to try and determine the make and model of that vehicle and determine who was the driver.”
A person who came across the scene shortly after it happened tells CHEK News it appears the man was struck in the northbound lanes and his boots remained planted where he was struck. His body thrown some distance away. The witness says there were also numerous vehicle parts strewn around.
“That’s just terrible I can’t somebody hitting someone and leaving. I just can’t imagine that,” said Jan Norwood, a neighbour who saw the first responders at the scene Sunday night.
But police say there is a possibility the driver didn’t realize what had happened.
“It is possible that someone may have struck that pedestrian and weren’t even aware of it. The weather at the time was poor so there is that chance. If you were in that area and feel that you may have struck something and weren’t aware of it please contact the North Cowichan RCMP,” said Manseau.
Police are also appealing to anyone who witnessed the hit-and-run or has dashcam footage around the time of the crash in the area or new information to come forward.
The B.C. Coroner’s Service is also investigating.
The last fatal hit-and-run on Vancouver Island was in Parksville in October of 2020.
Kendall Hanson
