Police described the scene as “chaotic” following a seven-vehicle accident on a hail-covered highway Friday.
The accident occurred around 1 p.m. on the Inland Island Highway near Hamm Road. The road was covered in hail and it was raining heavily when the multi-vehicle accident occurred.
According to RCMP, the driver of the first vehicle, a Chevrolet Cavalier, was travelling too fast for road conditions when he lost control of the car. As a result, two other vehicles were forced off the road as one went into a ditch while the other struck the centre median. Then, as other motorists tried to assist the injured, four more vehicles, unable to stop on the slick highway, were also involved in the accident.
According to the BC Ambulance Service, 15 people required treatment, but were not seriously injured. As a precaution, three people were taken to Campbell River Hospital while another three were transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Comox.
There were also three children in one of the cars, but none were injured.
Comox Valley RCMP, ambulance paramedics and firefighters from Oyster River Volunteer fire Department were all on scene at the accident. A paramedic and emergency room doctor, both off-duty, also assisted in treating the injured.
The driver of the Cavalier was ticketed for driving too fast for the road conditions.