Image: BC Highway Patrol / A Kia minivan with severe front-end damage in the southbound lanes of Island Highway North, with a heavily damaged Volkswagen Jetta in the ditch in the background.
By Mike Vanden Bosch
Fatal head-on crash

16-year-old arrested for impaired driving in head-on crash that killed 2 on Vancouver Island

Aug 27, 2026 | 11:19 AM

LANTZVILLE, BRITISH COLUMBIA – A 16-year-old Nanaimo girl has been arrested for impaired driving after a head-on collision in Lantzville earlier this morning claimed the life of two men.

Police and first responders were called to the southbound lanes of Highway 19 (Island Highway North) near Ware Road at 3 a.m. Thursday morning (Aug. 27) after a blue Kia Sedona minivan and a grey Volkswagen Jetta collided head-on.

Sgt. McLaughin says the two men who were in the grey Volkswagen died at scene. The occupant of the blue Kia minivan, who is a 16-year-old female from Nanaimo, was arrested at scene for impaired operation causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death.

Sgt. McLaughlin says the youth was taken to hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

Join Our Daily Email

“Police have already spoken to multiple witnesses who say that the blue Kia minivan was driving north in the southbound lanes at the time of the collision,” says Sergeant Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol. “We need to speak to more witnesses and gather more video to confirm the exact sequence of events.”

Fatal head-on crash
16-year-old arrested for impaired driving in head-on crash that killed 2 on Vancouver Island
1h ago
Max rent increase
2027 max rent increase amount to decrease slightly: B.C. government
1h ago
Overnight fires
Hope firefighters tackle vehicle fire and homeless encampment fire overnight
1h ago

The blue Kia minivan was seen in Nanaimo four hours before the collision. Anyone who witnessed the blue Kia minivan driving between Third Street and Pine Street, Nanaimo, and Island Highway North near Lantzville, is asked to contact police.

If you saw anything relevant to this collision, or you have dash-camera video, please contact BC Highway Patrol – Parksville at 250-954-2953 and quote file (4201) 2026-28277.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

More Local News

Fatal head-on crash
16-year-old arrested for impaired driving in head-on crash that killed 2 on Vancouver Island
1h ago
Max rent increase
2027 max rent increase amount to decrease slightly: B.C. government
1h ago
Overnight fires
Hope firefighters tackle vehicle fire and homeless encampment fire overnight
1h ago
Municipal election
Entrepreneur, foster parent to seek seat on Chilliwack Board of Education
2h ago
TSB probes plane accident near Mission in 3rd deployment to B.C. this month
2h ago