The crash that closed the Trans-Canada Highway in Cobble Hill last night resulted in the death of one man.
According to Mill Bay Fire Chief Ron Beck, the driver of a pickup truck has died after that vehicle was involved in a collision with a dump truck around 3:20 p.m.
The crash occured in the southbound lane at the intersection of the TCH and Hutchinson Road.
“I don’t know exactly what happened, the investigation is still continuing,” Beck said, noting that the dump truck driver was transported to hospital.
Beck said the incident “did attract quite a few people,” noting that along with the fire department, BC Ambulance Service, the Shawnigan Lake RCMP, Emcon, Ministry of Transportation, Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement and other officials were also on scene.
6:00pm UPDATE to MVI @ #BCHwy1 and Hutchinson Rd
— Emcon Services Inc., South Island Division (@EmconSouthVI) July 27, 2022
Emergency crews have cleared the scene, traffic is fully open in both directions.
Drive Safe.#MillBay #CobbleHill @DriveBC https://t.co/thMfauikPd pic.twitter.com/eAeLFXSpCq
Traffic was detoured via Cobble Hill Road.
“We were probably there for over an hour,” Beck said, noting the highway was closed “at least two-and-a-half to three” hours.
Beck noted that intersection, and one other in that area— the Trans-Canada Highway and Cobble Hill/Kilmalu Road — are notorious for accidents.
Beck is behind an effort to make those intersections safer.
“We seem to have a number of incidents at the two intersections there,” he added. “I think that’s already being looked after by the area’s CVRD director.”
According to ICBC, there were eight crashes at the TCH and Hutchinson Road in 2021.
