A woman was in critical but stable condition in Victoria General Hospital after the van she was driving collided head on with a semitrailer on the highway between Port Alberni and Parksville.
The woman was alone in the van, heading toward Parksville.
"The other driver was not injured," Port Alberni RCMP Const. Theresa Thompson said.
The crash resulted in a fire that passersby helped to extinguish, she said, adding off-duty firefighters were among those who helped.