Man dies after logging truck crash near Courtenay, B.C.
A crash involving a logging truck near Courtenay, B.C., on Tuesday claimed the life of one man, CTV News has learned.
Pamela Tessman was driving near the intersection of the Comox Valley Parkway and the northbound onramp onto Highway 19 just moments after a load of logs fell off a truck, crushing a nearby pickup.
The logging truck had been turning left onto the onramp when it came upon a pickup parked at the side of the road.
While turning, the logs spilled off the truck, crushing a 43-year-old man who was beside the pickup.
"I got out of my vehicle and called 911," said Tessman.
"As I was doing that the logging truck driver got out of his truck and went to see what was happening," she said.
The crash closed the northbound onramp onto Highway 19 from Comox Valley Parkway on Tuesday. (CTV News)
A woman was also standing beside the pickup truck on the front passenger side with the truck's door open.
CTV News learned that the logs fell on top of the truck and on top of the open door, narrowly missing her.
"The door being open probably saved her from being hit," said Cumberland Fire Rescue Chief Mike Williamson.
The woman did suffer a shoulder injury and was trapped inside the truck.
"She started screaming and asking someone to help her," said Tessman.
Firefighters later extracted the woman from the vehicle.
"Normally when you come upon accidents you see the police have already arrived," said Tessman. "So to be the first one at the scene was really surreal."
The fire chief added that logging trucks have had crashes at this corner before, though it is a rare occurrence.
CRASH UNDER REVIEW
A commercial vehicle inspector and a forestry worker were at the scene of the crash Wednesday.
The logging truck involved in the crash was owned and operated by a company out of Burns Lake, B.C., and was working under contract for Mosaic Forest Management.
Mosaic said it suspended all operations on Wednesday out of respect for everyone involved.
The company added that it was deeply saddened by the crash and that it was sending its sincere condolences to everyone affected.
"I can tell you the 43-year-old man who was found deceased at the scene was from Lake Cowichan," said Const. Monka Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP.
His identity has not been released.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Anything to win': Trudeau says as Poilievre defends meeting protesters
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre of welcoming 'the support of conspiracy theorists and extremists,' after the Conservative leader was photographed meeting with protesters, which his office has defended.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
Pilot reported fire onboard plane carrying fuel, attempted to return to Fairbanks just before crash
One of the two pilots aboard an airplane carrying fuel reported there was a fire on the airplane shortly before it crashed and burned outside Fairbanks, killing both people on board, a federal aviation official said Wednesday.
Manitoba government tables bill to end ban on homegrown recreational cannabis
Manitoba is planning to lift its ban on the home growing of recreational cannabis.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.