Two serious crashes on Vancouver Island made for a deadly day on the roads after two drivers were killed Friday.
The first crash happened around noon on Highway 19A — also known as the Island Highway — near the Norwell Road and Jingle Pot Road intersection in Nanaimo and involved two motor vehicles and a motorcycle.
Nanaimo RCMP said the motorcyclist died at the scene from his injuries, while the drivers of the two vehicles were taken to hospital with minor injuries.
The crash forced the northbound lane of the highway to shut down between Bowen Road and Norwell Drive, causing serious traffic delays. The road was finally cleared just before 4 p.m.
A short time later, another serious collision happened on Highway 4 at Koen Road, just over nine kilometres from Qualicum Beach.
RCMP confirmed that crash also involved three vehicles, and that one of the drivers was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the victim was a man in his 70s.
Six other people were involved in the crash. Two of them were flown to hospital in Victoria in critical condition, while another was taken to hospital by ground in serious condition.
Drive BC said the earliest the highway was expected to reopen was 6 p.m. Friday. The road was later opened to single lane alternating traffic just after 4:30 p.m.
The cause of both crashes has not yet been determined, but police believe the crash on Highway 4 involved two vehicles travelling in one direction that were hit by the third vehicle travelling the opposite way.
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