A driver was taken to hospital to be assessed for injuries early Tuesday after her pickup truck hit a power pole on Highway 18 and rolled down an embankment, say North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP.
The incident downed power lines, resulting in power outages in the area, and led to the highway being temporarily closed in both directions about 15 kilometres east of Lake Cowichan, with a detour via the Highway 18 connector and Paldi.
The RCMP said the driver was heading west in a white Toyota Tacoma about 5 a.m. in the 5400-block of Highway 18, which runs between the Trans-Canada Highway and Lake Cowichan, when she struck the power pole and rolled down an embankment.
The vehicle came to a stop on its roof.
The driver had to be extricated by firefighters before being treated by paramedics.
Drugs and alcohol are not believed to have been factors in the crash, police said.
B.C. Hydro was called in to deal with the power pole and downed power lines.
DriveBC reported about 11:30 a.m. that the highway had reopened.
Contact the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP at 250-748-5522 with any information about the incident.
