Two people have been injured in a rollover crash on the Malahat involving a fuel truck that has leaked an undetermined amount of fuel.
The Trans-Canada Highway is closed in both directions at Goldstream Provincial Park and is estimated to reopen at 10 p.m.
A small fuel truck and a passenger van crashed shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday near Finlayson Arm Road. The driver of the van was trapped inside after the crash and emergency crews were able to extricate the driver, who is suffering from non-life threatening injuries.
The driver of the fuel truck also suffered some injuries in the crash.
B.C. Emergency Health Services confirmed paramedics have transported two patients to hospital. One is in serious condition, the other is in stable condition.
West Shore RCMP Const. Matt Baker noted the front driver side of the van suffered significant damage and the driver was critically injured but those injuries were not life threatening.
Baker confirmed the fuel truck was on its side when emergency crews arrived on scene.
The truck was leaking fuel in the southbound lane but emergency crews were able to stop the leak.
Unconfirmed reports that the truck is carrying a significant amount of diesel.
Hazmat Emergency Response vehicle heads up the Trans Canada Hwy to clean up a diesel spill after an accident involving a small fuel truck and another vehicle. #yyj #yyjnews #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/hCtub1IzD6
— Lindsey Horsting (@lindseyhorsting) May 24, 2018
Emergency crews are on scene assessing the environmental impact of the fuel spill.
Langford Fire Chief Chris Aubrey said the fuel truck was carrying up to 2,200 litres of furnace oil. While furnace oil and diesel from the truck’s fuel tank leaked onto the roadway, Aubrey was unable to confirm how much was spilled.
Aubrey is optimistic crews were able to contain the spill.
“We won’t know for sure until the vehicle is out of there,” he said. “At this point it looks like we were able to keep it contained and stopped it from leaking into the river … While it’s unfortunate there’s not a lot of alternate routes available, our number one priority is to get that road opened up as soon as we safely can do it.”
The West Shore RCMP’s traffic services team is investigating the cause of the crash. B.C. Hazmat has also been called to the scene and B.C. Spill Response is also reporting crews on route.
The Trans-Canada Highway is closed in both directions. Northbound traffic is being rerouted on West Shore Parkway and southbound on Finlayson Arm Road. Finlayson Arm Road is bottle-necked with traffic trying to get in and out of Goldstream Provincial Park. The surrounding roadways are also experiencing heavy congestion.
If you're wondering about the Finlayson Arm detour, here's more info from @MainroadSIsland #yyjtraffic #yyjnews pic.twitter.com/sqQgtPjBUH
— Goldstream Gazette (@GoldstreamNews) May 24, 2018
Traffic backed up to a stand-still on West Shore Parkway and Trans Canada Highway. West Shore RCMP are advising people to not travel if they don't have to as traffic is backed up everywhere. For updates check https://t.co/ZX7B8oWBKJ #yyj #yyjnews #yyjtraffic pic.twitter.com/poim7xBB43
— Lindsey Horsting (@lindseyhorsting) May 24, 2018
B.C. Ferries is also advising motorists that the ferry between Brentwood Bay and Mill Bay has now reached capacity for the next three sailings departing in both directions.
Additional staff have been called in and B.C. Ferries will be running three extra sailings to accommodate the traffic volume. They will be departing from Brentwood Bay at 7:30, 8:40 and 9:50 p.m. and from Mill Bay at 8:05, 9:15 and 10:25 p.m.
B.C. Transit is advising passengers planning to take the 66 Duncan Commuter or the 99 Shawnigan Lake Commuter that the buses will leave Victoria at their scheduled times and detour through Sooke and the Pacific Marine Circle route. If you have any questions, call 250-746-9899.
#SD62 Parents/Guardians: Expect school bus delays this afternoon for all routes on the West Shore due to heavier traffic as a result of the Malahat closure. Large delays expected for buses 4, 6 & 25
— School District #62 (@SD62_Sooke) May 24, 2018
The Sooke School District is also warning parents and guardians that bus service is expected to be delayed this afternoon due to the heavy volume of traffic on the West Shore. The longest delays are expected for buses 4, 6 and 25.
More to come.