Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Emergency crews responded to two fatal crashes on Vancouver Island within just a few hours.
The first crash occurred around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, in the 2800-block of Island Highway East, near the Nanoose Rest Area. A passenger in one of the vehicles, a 20-year-old woman, died at the scene, while two other people were taken to hospital.
Then, just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 27, a crash occurred on Highway 19 near Ware Road in Lantzville.
The BC Highway Patrol says it’s believed a 16-year-old female driver in a blue Kia minivan from Nanaimo was travelling north in the southbound lanes when she struck a grey Volkswagen Jetta that was heading south.
The two people in the car, described as adult men, died at the scene. Meanwhile, the girl was taken to hospital with injuries that are "not believed to be life-threatening."
The teen driver was arrested for impaired operation causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.
“Police have already spoken to multiple witnesses who say that the blue Kia minivan was driving north in the southbound lanes at the time of the collision,” said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “We need to speak to more witnesses and gather more video to confirm the exact sequence of events.”
Emergency crews responded to two fatal crashes on Vancouver Island within just a few hours.
The first crash occurred around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 26, in the 2800-block of Island Highway East, near the Nanoose Rest Area. A passenger in one of the vehicles, a 20-year-old woman, died at the scene, while two other people were taken to hospital.
Then, just after 3 a.m. on Aug. 27, a crash occurred on Highway 19 near Ware Road in Lantzville.
The BC Highway Patrol says it’s believed a 16-year-old female driver in a blue Kia minivan from Nanaimo was travelling north in the southbound lanes when she struck a grey Volkswagen Jetta that was heading south.
The two people in the car, described as adult men, died at the scene. Meanwhile, the girl was taken to hospital with injuries that are "not believed to be life-threatening."
The teen driver was arrested for impaired operation causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.
“Police have already spoken to multiple witnesses who say that the blue Kia minivan was driving north in the southbound lanes at the time of the collision,” said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “We need to speak to more witnesses and gather more video to confirm the exact sequence of events.”
