The Saanich Police Department is investigating a crash that left a pedestrian with serious, potentially life-threatening injuries and closed part of the Trans-Canada Highway Thursday.
Around 10:26 a.m., officers were called to the highway at Tillicum Road after multiple 911 callers reported a collision near the intersection in the southbound lanes, according to Saanich Police.
An initial police investigation has revealed the driver of a red Toyota Prius struck a pedestrian, a 22-year-old man, seriously injuring him, police said in a news release.
In an update on Friday, police say the pedestrian remains in critical condition and is still in the hospital’s ICU.
They say the driver remained on scene and is cooperating.
“We’re not sure how it came to be, but it appears as though the person was struck at highway speeds,” Saanich Police Sgt. Steve Eassie told CHEK News in an interview.
Around 11 a.m., Saanich Police said in an emailed statement that the stretch of highway was closed to commuters heading south, with a detour available via Tillicum Road.
A CHEK News photo showed fire crews also on scene. One car that appeared to be involved in the crash sustained a large dent on its front windshield, while an item resembling a piece of clothing was seen a few metres in front.
A person claiming to have witnessed the crash told CHEK News the pedestrian was “tossed through the air,” adding they were later seen being taken away by paramedics. “It was awful to see,” the witness said.
In a 1:15 p.m. tweet, DriveBC said the crash had been cleared but warned drivers to still expect delays in the area.
Police say updates on the pedestrian’s condition are not available at this time.
“There is information circulating on social media relating to the circumstances that may have caused this collision. As the investigation is still in the early stages, we are not in a position to confirm this information until all witnesses have provided their information to our investigators,” police added in the release.
✅ CLEAR – #BCHwy1 Southbound vehicle incident at Tillicum Rd in #Saanich has been cleared. Continue to expect delays as the congestion clears. #VanIsle #VictoriaBC
— DriveBC (@DriveBC) February 2, 2023
Photo: CHEK News
Ethan Morneau
