PARKSVILLE — Multiple people received minor injuries during a Thursday morning multi-vehicle collision near Parksville, which required an air ambulance to transport one person to hospital.
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. on Nov. 12, along Hwy. 19 between the Englishman River Bridge and the Exit 46 off-ramp, affecting both directions until the early afternoon.
Oceanside RCMP Sgt. Shane Worth said preliminary investigations found a southbound vehicle lost control while crossing the bridge, likely due to wet and slippery conditions, causing a chain reaction crash involving multiple vehicles behind it.
“Approximately eight vehicles were involved in this incident. One person was transported to hospital by air ambulance with non-life-threatening injuries. Because of the amount of vehicles that were involved, the traffic on the highway was heavily impacted while multiple tow trucks attended to remove the vehicles from the highway and also to accommodate their air ambulance landing, actually right on the highway, is what investigators have told me.”
Oceanside RCMP say at least eight vehicles were involved in a crash on Hwy. 19 near Parksville Thursday morning, with the highway reopening to traffic by the early afternoon. (Image Credit: Google Maps)
Both lanes were closed for a few hours as traffic was detoured through Parksville, with the northbound lanes reopening around noon, and the scene given the all-clear by 1:20 p.m.
Worth said there’s no indication of impairment or criminality on behalf of any driver at this time, with the wet weather considered to be the main factor.
The exact nature of injuries is unknown, and NanaimoNewsNOW has contacted BC EHS for further details.
Despite the incident occurring in the southbound lanes, northbound traffic was closed for around an hour to allow space for emergency crews to work and conduct their investigation.
We’re on Bluesky! Stay up-to-date on news across central Vancouver Island through Bluesky by following @NanaimoNewsNOW.bsky.social.
Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook