MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN TRUCK COLLISION
A 58-year-old man from North Saanich has died from injuries suffered in a crash involving a truck and motorcycle Monday.
Police responded to multiple 911 calls just after 12:30 p.m. about the crash at the intersection of Boleskine and Whittier roads, said Saanich police Acting Sgt. Jereme Leslie.
Chris Gingell, an excavator with Don Mann Excavating Ltd., heard the impact from a construction site on Whittier Avenue.
“The sound of it was kind of eerie even before I looked out, it was the sound of crushing metal,” said Gingell.
The 10-year Shawnigan Lake volunteer firefighter took his emergency kit and arrived at the scene about a minute after the crash, he said.
“I heard the crash and then heard yelling,” said Gingell. When Gingell arrived, someone had already checked for the motorcyclist’s pulse and had placed him in a safe spinal position. The victim was in full gear with riding jacket and pants and wearing a full-face helmet.
Gingell began CPR. The motorcyclist did not have a pulse and remained unresponsive during the resuscitation, said Gingell.
He had emergency equipment with him to keep the victim’s airway open. Within another couple of minutes, paramedics arrived and took over. A defibrillator was used.
Boleskine Road was shut down for several hours for vehicle and pedestrian traffic in both directions while police investigated.