A deer on the Pat Bay Highway led to a six-car pile-up on the Patricia Bay Highway (Highway 17) early Thursday morning near Elk/Beaver Lake Regional Park.
Saanich police, the Saanich Fire Department and the BC Ambulance Service were called to a collision adjacent to the park at 6:40 a.m.
Police said a vehicle going north on the Pat Bay Highway struck a deer. After the impact, the driver slowed down and was struck from the rear by another vehicle. The deer ended up in the southbound lane of the Pat Bay Highway where it was struck a second time by a vehicle going south, leading to another series of rear-end collisions.
A total of six vehicles were involved in the incident. Four vehicles had to be towed off the highway. Paramedics looked over two of the drivers but no one needed to be taken to the hospital.
The highway was congested for approximately 30 to 40 minutes due to the six-car collision.
Police are reminding drivers that it is important to leave adequate space to stop or take action in the event of a collision or other emergency. Police say at a highway speed of 80 km/h, a vehicle is travelling almost 20 metres per second. Therefore, distance is needed to provide adequate time to stop or take action to avoid a car in front.
The deer was last seen running east away from the highway.
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