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BC Highway Patrol looking for witnesses after head-on crash on Highway #19 in Parksville

BC Highway Patrol

2025-03-05 07:10 PST

File # 7001 2025-446

Three people are lucky to be alive after a head-on collision in Parksville, and BC Highway Patrol is looking for your help to figure out how it happened.

BC Highway Patrol, firefighters, and an air ambulance in the aftermath of a head-on collision involving a white Chevrolet pickup and a grey Toyota Prius on Highway #19 near the Church Road overpass

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On March 3, 2025, just after 4:00 p.m., on Highway #19 near the Church Road overpass, a white Chevrolet pickup crossed the median from the southbound lanes and struck a grey Toyota Prius going northbound.

Both vehicles were destroyed in the crash. Miraculously, the driver and small child in the Prius appear to have non-life-threatening injuries, said Corporal Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. Anyone who saw the white Chevrolet pickup or the grey Prius in the minutes leading up to the crash needs to call BC Highway Patrol. We are particularly interested if you have any dash-camera footage.

Both vehicles, including this white Chevrolet pickup, were destroyed in the collision

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The Nanaimo man who was driving the pickup was taken to hospital along with the woman and her child (who are from Nanoose Bay).

March is the provincial Occupant Restraint Campaign, and it’s heartening that the driver of the Prius likely saved her child’s life by using a proper child car seat in the rear passenger area of her vehicle, said Corporal McLaughlin. In terms of what caused this collision, nothing has been ruled out.

If you saw the collision, or have dash-camera footage, please call BC Highway Patrol Parksville at 250-954-2953 and quote file 2025-446.

Released by:

Cpl. Michael McLaughlin
Media Relations Officer
BC Highway Patrol
14200 Green Timbers Way, Surrey, BC V3T 6P3
Office: 778-290-5844

Email: bchp_media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca
Website: bc-cb.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/highway-patrol

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