B.C. police investigating head-on crash that injured child, 2 adults

The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m. on March 3, when a white Chevrolet pickup truck, heading south on Highway 19, crossed the grassy median and struck a northbound grey Toyota Prius. (Handout)

Police say three people are injured but lucky to be alive after a head-on collision near Parksville, B.C.

The crash happened shortly after 4 p.m. on March 3, when a white Chevrolet pickup truck, heading south on Highway 19, crossed the grassy median and struck a northbound grey Toyota Prius.

Investigators say both vehicles were destroyed in the crash near the Church Road highway overpass, west of downtown Parksville.

Police are now trying to determine what led to the collision.

“Miraculously, the driver and small child in the Prius appear to have non-life-threatening injuries,” Cpl. Michael McLaughlin of the B.C. Highway Patrol said in a statement Wednesday.

The woman and child are from Nanoose Bay, police said. The driver of the pickup truck, a man from Nanaimo, was also transported to hospital.

“Anyone who saw the white Chevrolet pickup or the grey Prius in the minutes leading up to the crash needs to call B.C. Highway Patrol,” the statement said.

“We are particularly interested if you have any dash-camera footage.”

Investigators say “nothing has been ruled out” regarding the likely cause of the crash.

The Prius driver “likely saved her child’s life by using a proper child car seat in the rear passenger area of her vehicle,” McLaughlin added.

Anyone with information or video related to the collision is asked to contact the B.C. Highway Patrol in Parksville at 250-954-2953.