'Shocking' multi-vehicle collision sends 3 to hospital: Victoria police

Police in Victoria, B.C., say three people were sent to hospital after a collision involving three vehicles, including a B.C. Transit bus, on Wednesday night. 

Police say witnesses reported seeing a southbound car run a red light on Douglas Street at a high rate of speed and collide with a pickup truck heading east on Bay Street. The truck then crashed into a bus in a northbound lane on Douglas Street.

"When the officer arrived on scene, the front of the car was engulfed in flames," Victoria police spokesperson Griffen Hohl said.

Police said the officer and bystanders safely removed the driver and passenger from the car.

Three people were taken to hospital for treatment. The driver of the pickup sustained "serious and possibly life-altering injuries" and remains in hospital, Hohl said.

A police statement said two people in the car suffered minor injuries. Hohl said Thursday that the driver has been released from hospital.

According to the statement, B.C. Transit said no passengers reported significant injuries and the front end of the bus was damaged.

Surveillance video from the area showed the collision that Hohl described as "shocking."

He noted that it's fortunate that pedestrians at a nearby crosswalk weren't injured. 

Victoria police say crash analysts attended the scene and a blood sample was collected from the driver of the car to determine if impairment was a factor.

Police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with information to come forward.