Speed, alcohol likely factors in fatal crash: police

Police say speed and alcohol likely played a role in a singlevehicle crash south of Nanaimo on Tuesday that claimed the life of a 33-year-old Nanaimo man.

Nanaimo RCMP said the crash happened about 8:15 p.m. in the 2400-block of White Rapids Road.

Witnesses told police that an older-model GMC pickup was speeding, then went out of control, left the roadway and hit a tree.

The driver and lone occupant was pronounced dead at the scene by the B.C. Coroners Service.

A B.C. Hydro line was damaged in the crash, resulting in the road being closed, police said.

Police, paramedics and the Extension Volunteer Fire Department responded to the crash.

The B.C. Coroners Service, an RCMP traffic-collision analyst and several other officers were at the scene for several hours.

Call Nanaimo RCMP at 250754-2345 with any information related to the crash or observations from before the collision.