Tow truck driver seriously injured in hit and run on Vancouver Island

A tow truck driver has been seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle near Lantzville yesterday evening.

This collision occurred at about 6:30 pm on Highway 19 between Lantzville and Nanoose in an area where repairs were being made to the road surface following the recent winter storms.

“A number of damaged vehicles were parked on the shoulder of the highway and were being towed when the tow operator, who was simply doing his job, was struck by the passing green Dodge Caravan,” police said.

Police said the suspect vehicle fled the scene, leaving the tow truck driver with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

Witnesses to the incident provided a licence plate for the van, which was located by BCHP officers in Nanoose Bay about 30 minutes later. It was parked along a road with a man behind the wheel.

Police said it was quickly determined that the man was impaired by alcohol. He was arrested and taken to the BCHP office where he provided breath samples in excess of three times over the legal limit.

The man is facing potential charges of impaired driving causing bodily harm and failing to remain at the scene of an accident.

He remains in custody at this time. The vehicle was seized and will undergo a forensic examination.

Anyone with information regarding this collision, including any dashcam video, is asked to contact BC Highway Patrol in Parksville at 250-954-2953 and reference file 2022-25.