The fatal crash that closed a stretch of Highway 1 for several hours on Thursday has sparked a conversation around transportation for some residents in Greater Victoria.<\/p>\n
Just before Thursday\u2019s afternoon rush hour around 2 p.m., a crash involving two vehicles in the northbound lanes of the Trans-Canada Highway near Helmcken Road resulted in one person seriously injured and one who did not survive. <\/p>\n
Watch the story in the video below:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cOur preliminary information and findings have indicated the collision was the result of a medical event,\u201d said Saanich Police Department\u2019s Insp. Damian Kowalewich. <\/p>\n \u201cOne of the occupants has died and the other received a serious injury, but is expected to make a full recovery,\u201d Kowalewich said. <\/p>\n Immediately, police investigators closed all northbound lanes, effectively cutting off the Trans-Canada Highway \u2013 the main route out of the region.<\/p>\n This led to a traffic gridlock that did not let up for hours.<\/p>\n Avery Sukow found herself ensnared in traffic for a simple errand.<\/p>\n \u201cI was actually going to drop my daughter off. Normally, typically a five-minute ride. Which actually turned into a 55-minute drive. Going for four city blocks,\u201d Sukow said. <\/p>\n She was frustrated at the lack of information.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no real communication as to what was happening or routes to take, and we weren\u2019t moving. And everyone was panicking and trying to U-turn,\u201d Sukow said.<\/p>\n Zac de Vries, Saanich councillor, said the gridlocked traffic from the incident highlights the need for alternative transportation planning in the region.<\/p>\n \u201cIt really highlights how stuck we are. I do worry in the case of an emergency having a lack of options. And it\u2019s the more reason we need to be building complete networks that really look to empower people to make their own choices,\u201d de Vries said.<\/p>\n Dean Murdock, mayor of Saanich, said it demonstrates the need for the region to work together on transportation issues.<\/p>\n \u201cI know a lot of people who did get stuck, people who reported hours-long wait for what would otherwise be a half hour or 45 minute trip. That\u2019s a significant impact to people\u2019s day,\u201d Murdock said. <\/p>\n