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One dead in crash at Bench Road

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One person was killed and two more were injured — one seriously — in a motor vehicle incident at the intersection of the Trans Canada Highway and Bench Road just before 8 a.m. on Sunday.

A sand-coloured Toyota sedan carrying three people was northbound on the highway when it struck a traffic light standard on the northeast corner of the intersection.

A male passenger in the front seat of the car was pronounced dead at the scene, while the male driver was taken to hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries. A female passenger in the back seat suffered minor injuries and was also taken to hospital.

All three passengers were believed by police to be in their early 20s and from the Port Alberni area.

Along with local responders from the North Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP, the Cowichan Bay volunteer fire department and BC Ambulance, the BC Coroner's service and a collision reconstruction expert also attended the scene.

"Initial indications are that fatigue may have been a contributing factor in this collision, however the investigation is continuing," said Cpl. Jon Stuart of the North Cowichan/ Duncan RCMP.