The Trans-Canada Highway has re-opened 14 hour after a collision between a fuel truck and a transit van closed the busy route at Goldstream Provincial Park.
The crash happened just before 11 Thursday morning. Both drivers were injured.
Westshore RCMP say a fuel truck owned by F.A.S. Fuels flipped on it's side. The female driver of the van was trapped in the wreck. Langford Fire crews used the jaws of life to free her.
“We responded to a call that came in this morning at about 10:56 to a report of a crash involving a truck that was carrying some fuel," BC Emergency Health Services spokesperson Lesley Pritchard said. "We transported two patients from the scene. One in serious condition, one in stable condition.”BC Emergency Health Services
CFAX1070 News spoke with F.A.S. Fuels. The company confirmed the truck driver was the owner - Daryl. Better Business Bureau has Daryl Mowat listed as the owner of the small family business. The driver had been returning from Nanaimo where he was picking up a new truck for the company.
A HAZMAT team contained and cleaned-up about five litres of fuel that spilled from the transit van. Although it was damaged, the fuel truck didn't leak.
Commuters were left with the challenge of getting around the closure.
BC Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall advised the Mill Bay to Brentwood Bay Ferry was not a good option because the boat on that route can only take 20 vehicles per sailing.
"The vessel carries about 20 cars so it would be… 20 cars in either direction per hour. It's my understanding there's usually about 25,000 vehicles that use the Malahat on a daily basis. Our vessel certainly isn't able to pick up all of that slack."
As of 2:30 p.m. all regular sailings between Mill Bay and Brentwood Bay were full. BC Ferries has since added additional sailings to accommodate the unforeseen passenger volumes.
There are detours available via Finlayson Arm Road for local residents only. as well as Millstream Road.
BC Transit reported traffic delays to the Brentwood Bay ferry dock, Route 75 is bypassing the Brentwood/Verdier loop southbound, but running normally northbound
School District 62 bus service was also stalled, leaving parents scrambling to pick up students.