A hazmat team has been called to investigate suspicious chemicals found late Wednesday afternoon in the back of an abandoned vehicle stopped at the northwest corner of the intersection of Sooke Road and Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The suspect vehicle, a compact red car, was abandoned at the scene. Unconfirmed reports indicated the two suspects who fled from the vehicle are now in police custody.
Two occupants in a vehicle struck by the first car received medical treatment at the scene and one may have been transported to hospital for further treatment, according to Colwood Acting Fire Chief John Cassidy.
He added that a hazmat team was called to investigate chemicals found in the vehicle.
The scene was not expected to be fully opened until the hazmat team and West Shore RCMP have finished investigating the incident and gathering evidence, Cassidy said. When he was speaking with the Gazette, Sooke Road was closed to eastbound motorists and pedestrians between roughly Fulton and Metchosin roads, snarling traffic around the intersection at Veterans Memorial during the evening rush hour.
"We try and make the scene safe, not just for us, but for the public passing," Cassidy said, adding crews do their best to keep traffic flowing.
While Colwood Fire crews are on scene, he noted the View Royal fire department is covering their calls through their mutual aid agreement.
katie@goldstreamgazette.com