Nanaimo RCMP took the unusual step of shutting down the Nanaimo Parkway in both directions Friday morning so a drone could be safely flown overhead as part of the investigation into a fatal collision this month
The closure, which was scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon but ended about 11:30 a.m., extended between the two nearest intersections: Aulds Road and Mostar/Jingle Pot Road.
The crash under investigation happened about 8:30 p.m. Aug. 10 between the Dunster Road overpass and the Doumont Road bridge when southbound car crossed the grassy median and hit a northbound SUV.
The driver of the SUV died in hospital, while the driver of the car was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Both drivers were alone in their vehicles.
The parkway was closed for much of that night as police examined the scene.
Friday’s closure allowed a collision analyst to fly a drone over the area “to reassess it and also look for any other evidence,” said Reserve Const. Gary O’Brien.
“The only way to safely do it is to shut down the highway,” he said. “You can’t fly a drone if there’s vehicles underneath because it’s a potential for accidents — people would certainly be looking into the sky.”
He said the decision to close the stretch of highway “wasn’t made lightly.”
“It was made in extensive consultation with the City of Nanaimo engineering department and the Ministry of Transportation, and we made sure Mainland Contracting would have flaggers at both points where the traffic was being diverted,” he said.
Motorists were advised to travel on the Old Island Highway during the closure.
The closure time chosen is one of the least-congested periods during daylight hours, O’Brien said. “Most of the commercial traffic starts at four in the morning and they’ve made it to their points by nine.”
Anyone who witnessed the crash and has not yet talked to police is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP at 250-754-2345.
Police are also looking for dashcam or other video, including video of southbound vehicles coming from the direction of Nanoose Bay from 8-8:30 p.m. on Aug. 10.
