A 33-year-old Nanaimo man who died after rolling his tractor trailer into a ditch near Hamm Road has been identified by the BC Coroners Service.
The coroner has confirmed that Vincent Allen Torrant Buchanan was the driver and sole occupant of a northbound loaded tanker truck that on the morning of Sept. 5, left the roadway, went over an embankment and landed on its roof on Highway 19 near its intersection with Hamm Road.
The vehicle was travelling northbound on Highway 19 with 50,000 litres of bio diesel when it struck a large sign post and rolled into the ditch, spilling its contents.
Members of the North Vancouver Island Traffic Services and the Comox Valley RCMP traffic unit responded to the incident at 7:09 a.m. last Monday morning.
Sgt. Craig Blanchard with North Vancouver Island Traffic Services said the male driver was deceased at the scene.
Blanchard said fire crews were brought in to help deal with the fuel spill.
“The Oyster River Fire Department conducted initial containment of the fuel and the scene is being handled by the Ministry of Environment (HazMat),” Blanchard said.
“The incident is still under investigation. Speed or alcohol are not considered factors in the collision.”
The BC Coroners Service and RCMP continue to investigate this death. An excavator was still on scene as of Wednesday morning working to clean-up the area.
Buchanan’s family has been notified of his death. On behalf of family members, the BC Coroners Service requests that the media respect their privacy during this difficult time.
Jocelyn Doll/Campbell River Mirror
Crews were still on the scene of a fatal tractor-trailor rollover on Wednesday working to clean-up a diesel spill from Monday morning.