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Man hits rock wall on Malahat

A 43-year-old Duncan man was taken to hospital after his car hit the rock wall beside the Malahat highway on Tuesday.

The man was travelling north in a Honda CRV when he went across the southbound lane and struck the rock near the area known as Split Rock, a few kilometres north of the intersection of South Shawnigan Lake Road and the Trans-Canada Highway.

The driver told police he had a coughing fit and lost consciousness before the accident. "The male individual indicated he had blacked out, and when he came to, he had already hit the rock face adjacent to the highway," Shawnigan Lake RCMP officer Cpl. Greg Pask said.

The man was trapped in the vehicle and suffered injuries consistent with hitting a rock wall officials said, including some from the deployment of the airbags.

Along with the RCMP, Malahat and Mill Bay fire rescue, BC Ambulance and Mainroad workers responded. Southbound traffic was held up while responders dealt with the accident, although northbound traffic was able to keep moving.

The Jaws of Life were required to get the driver out of his vehicle, and he was taken to Victoria General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Pask said police aren't aware of any pre-existing medical conditions that could have caused the driver to black out, and the investigation is ongoing.



Kevin Rothbauer

About the Author: Kevin Rothbauer

Kevin Rothbauer is the sports reporter for the Cowichan Valley Citizen
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