Alcohol is being investigated as a factor in a fatal crash that closed the Malahat early Saturday afternoon.

The B.C. Coroners office confirmed one person is dead after a two-vehicle head-on collision on the Trans-Canada Highway. West Shore RCMP, Malahat Fire Rescue and B.C. Ambulance Service responded to the collision near Aspen Road shortly after 1 p.m.

The male driver of a southbound minivan was pronounced dead at the scene, and his female passenger was taken to hospital with serious injuries. The female driver of the northbound vehicle was also transported to hospital with injuries.

B次元官网网址淭he Coroner attended the collision scene and notification of next of kin is being completed with the family,B次元官网网址� said Cpl. Chris Dovell. B次元官网网址淎lcohol is believed to be a factor in this fatal collision and police investigators are gathering evidence as to the level of impairment of the female driver and any driving evidence observed by witnesses.B次元官网网址�

Traffic was stopped in both directions north of Aspen Road for nearly an hour, but reopened to single lane traffic in both directions while the West Shore RCMPB次元官网网址檚 traffic unit and a South Island Traffic Services Collision analyst conducted their investigation.

lindsey.horsting@goldstreamgazette.com