A Nanaimo RCMP officer is recovering in hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after his police vehicle hit a patch of ice, went off the roadway then flipped several times on Monday morning.
According to police, the police car crashed at approximately 9 a.m. on Monday on Highway 19A, just south of the Oliver Road and Highway 19A intersection.
The Nanaimo Mountie was on his way to assist another officer, travelling northbound with his emergency equipment activated and siren on when he hit the patch of ice.
When his vehicle came to a rest upside down, he managed to crawl out of the vehicle and request emergency assistance, said the RCMP. He was then taken to the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.
The vehicle landed below the Nanaimo North Town Centre sign, more than 15 metres away from the road.
Courtesy of NanaimoNewsNow
Northbound traffic on the Island Highway is shut down temporarily from Rutherford Road to Oliver Road. Detours are available.
A witness to the incident reported the officer appeared to be travelling at, or slightly above, the posted speed limit and in a “reasonable manner” just prior to his vehicle hitting the slush and ice.
If you witnessed the incident or have dashcam footage, you are asked to call the Nanaimo RCMP non-emergency line at 250-754-2345.
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Rebecca Lawrence
