Two Killed in Crash Near Lantzville; 16-Year-Old Driver Charged

Two people were killed in a serious crash involving a Volkswagen Jetta and a Kia Sedona minivan on Highway 19 near Lantzville on Vancouver Island early Friday morning.

According to B.C. Highway Patrol, the collision occurred around 3 a.m. near the intersection of Ware Road, involving two vehicles travelling in the southbound lanes.

Police said two occupants of the Volkswagen died at the scene. The 16-year-old girl driving the Kia minivan was also injured and remains in hospital for treatment.

The teenage driver has been charged with impaired driving causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

Sgt. Michael McLaughlin said preliminary witness information suggests the minivan may have been travelling in the wrong direction before the crash. The same vehicle was reportedly seen in Nanaimo about four hours before the collision.

The teenager is also from Nanaimo.

B.C. Highway Patrol is investigating the crash in cooperation with Nanaimo RCMP and is asking anyone with dashcam or other video footage from the area to come forward.