A truck carrying sound and video equipment for a weekend music festival rolled twice on the Trans-Canada Highway in View Royal just before noon on Thursday, shutting down traffic in the southbound lanes and causing backups in the other direction.
View Royal Fire Chief Paul Hurst said the driver was taken to hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.
One southbound lane was reopened by 12:30 p.m.
The rollover into the centre median of the highway happened near the Six Mile Road off-ramp. The rental truck landed on its side with equipment strewn all over the highway.
West Shore RCMP are conducting an investigation.
The sound equipment was destined for the Phillips Backyard Music Festival, which starts Friday and continues until Sunday at the brewery’s property at 2010 Government St.
Organizers said the accident isn’t expected to disrupt the festival.
“We’re concerned for our crew and driver, but we have staff at the crash site handling the gear,” Stephen Franke, co-organizer of the event, told the Times Colonist.
Franke said another truck was sent to the site to pick up the equipment. “The show will go on as planned.”
Hurst said some drivers who witnessed the rollover rushed to the driver’s aid and tried to remove her from the truck, “but probably exacerbated some of her injuries by trying to yank her out.”
“Although they were concerned it’s probably a good reminder to wait for emergency responders,” said Hurst.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash, which was originally reported as a multi-vehicle collision.
Hurst said it could take several hours to right the truck and clear the highway, and asked drivers for patience.
Northbound lanes had slowed to a crawl, mostly because people were slowing down to look at the crash scene, said Hurst.
Emergency crews remain at the scene and traffic is backing up in both directions.
