Police investigate weekend fatal collision

On November 3, 2024 at 2:22 p.m., the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP responded to a report of a head-on collision in the eastbound lane of Highway 18. According to witnesses, a westbound compact pickup truck drifted into the oncoming lane where it impacted an eastbound one-tonne pickup. The compact pickup truck came to rest in the ditch, the driver was entrapped and crews worked to extricate them while the other driver was taken to hospital with apparently minor injuries. The driver of the compact pickup was later pronounced deceased despite life-saving efforts by first responders. No one else was injured in the crash.

All highway traffic was shutdown to allow emergency crews to work safely however has since been reopened.

The investigation remains in the early stages and all causal factors are not yet know.

Police are asking anyone who witnessed the collision, specifically the driver of a white truck that braked and swerved towards the ditch to avoid the collision while they were travelling eastbound towards Duncan to come forward and speak with investigators.

Anyone with any information or dash cam footage of the crash who has not yet spoke with police is asked to contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522.