Skip to content

Driver flees barefoot after crashing and tipping vehicle in Nanaimo’s south end

Vehicle wiped out Aug. 23 in parking lot of Express Care Oil Change
30180841_web1_220831-NBU-Nicol-Needham-Car-Crash-2_1
A driver fled the scene of an accident, barefoot, after the vehicle they were driving flipped in south Nanaimo the night of Aug. 23, says RCMP. (Daralynn Munroe photo)

A driver allegedly fled the scene of an accident after rolling the Volvo SUV he was driving in Nanaimo’s south end last night.

At 9:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23, there was a “fairly spectacular single-vehicle crash” at the Express Care Oil Change near Needham and Nicol streets, according to reserve Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesperson. The vehicle was headed southbound and tried to turn left down Needham Street, flipped on its side and ended up in the parking lot at the automotive service shop and caught fire, he said.

A nearby closed circuit TV camera caught footage of the crash and there was damage to the retaining wall and a chain-link fence, as well as to one of the pay vacuums at the business.

The driver, a man described as “heavy set,” was last seen running barefoot down Haliburton Street, said O’Brien. There were no other occupants in the vehicle.

Daralynn Munroe said she witnessed the incident.

“It was so scary with the fire and crash,” Munroe said via text message. “Someone got a fire extinguisher and put out the flames before it could reach the car. I think everybody was worried about the car catching on fire and exploding and not paying attention to the unconscious man from the vehicle that came to and ran down the alley.”

It is not known if the vehicle was stolen, but O’Brien said police are making efforts to get in touch with the registered owner of the Volvo.

Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Nanaimo RCMP’s non-emergency line at 250-754-2345, citing file No. 2022-29605.

READ ALSO: Nanaimo intersection worst on Island for car crashes



reporter@nanaimobulletin.com

Like us on Facebook and follow Karl on Twitter and Instagram

Breaking News You Need To Know

Sign up for a free account today and start receiving our exclusive newsletters.

Sign Up with google Sign Up with facebook

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Reset your password

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

A link has been emailed to you - check your inbox.



Don't have an account? Click here to sign up


Karl Yu

About the Author: Karl Yu

I joined Black Press in 2010 and cover education, court and RDN. I am a Ma Murray and CCNA award winner.
Read more