Six people were hurt, some of them seriously, in a multiple vehicle collision on Highway 4 Monday.
Oceanside RCMP Sergeant Darrell Robertson reported the collision involved three vehicles just after 11 a.m. near the entrance to Little Qualicum Falls Park.
Robertson said the results of a preliminary investigation indicate three passenger vehicles were involved.
Four of the vehicle occupants sustained serious injuries and were airlifted by B.C. Air Ambulance to hospital from the scene. Two others suffered less serious injuries.
Robertson said the status of the occupant’s remained unknown at press time and said the age and gender of the occupants will not be released at this point, as officers work to notify their family.
Coombs Volunteer Fire Department Chief Darren Hillsden said his hall responded to the crash with one rescue company and one engine company and they were joined by three units from Qualicum Beach Fire Rescue, one from the Errington Fire Department and one from the Dashwood fire hall. Two helicopters and four ambulances also raced to the scene.
Hillsden said it appears to have been a head-on collision.
He noted as well that initial reports which indicated a bus was involved were not accurate, noting a bus was indeed at the scene at the time of the crash but the driver was able to avoid hitting the stricken vehicles.
He noted as well that while initial reports indicated eight people were injured in the crash, this was also proven to be inaccurate.
Highway 4 was shut down while emergency crews worked to evacuate the wounded and clean up debris from the crash. Vehicles were backed up as far as the Coombs junction and beyond.
Anyone who may have witnessed this crash, and has not yet spoken to police, is asked to contact the Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111.
Watch Friday’s edition of The Parksville Qualicum Beach News for more updates on this incident.