Highway 4, the Pacific Rim Highway, was closed in both directions two kilometres west of Ucluelet Junction late Monday afternoon because of a fatal motor vehicle accident.
The crash involved a motorhome and a pickup that witnesses say became engulfed in flames after it collided with the motorhome.
Sgt. Jeff Swann of Ucluelet RCMP was quoted in a Westerly News article as saying the pickup driver died in the fiery crash.
“Both vehicles caught fire and both were destroyed by fire,” said Swann.
He said the pickup driver was reportedly driving erratically and passing cars while travelling south from Tofino toward Ucluelet.
“He crossed the centre line and struck the motorhome head-on,” Swann told the Westerly News, adding bystanders unsuccessfully tried to free the driver who was trapped in his truck.
The motorhome’s two occupants received treatment at Tofino General Hospital Monday night for what were described as non life-threatening injuries.
When reached by the Times Colonist shortly after 6 p.m., Swann said the coroner had arrived on the scene, where fire crews were still working.
Attempts were being made to identify the deceased male, he said.
