One man dead after incident involving truck in downtown Nanaimo
Published 1:20 pm Wednesday, September 16, 2026
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A man is dead following a motor vehicle incident in the parking lot of the Co-op gas bar on Victoria Crescent in downtown Nanaimo on the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 16.
Nanaimo RCMP said the investigation is in the early stages, but can confirm that one man has died in the incident.
Kevan Shaw witnessed the event at approximately 6:30 a.m.
He said he heard a fuel truck backing up towards the gas pumps in the parking lot of the gas station and the driver was blowing his horn to warn anyone that may be behind the truck.
“At the same time, there was a black car coming out of Old Victoria Road that was honking his horn at the truck,” Shaw said.
“The car then scurried around the truck and there were a few words exchanged between the driver of the truck and the car.”
Shaw said he thought nothing more about it until a few minutes later when he heard sirens and fire trucks, police cars and ambulances began arriving at the scene.
He said he then knew that something bad had happened.
“I saw a blanket next to (the) cab of the fuel truck and I knew, unfortunately, that it was covering a body, so I knew something had happened,” Shaw said.
Shaw said he spoke to some street people that were in the area, and they said it was an unhoused person under the blanket.
Nanaimo RCMP said Victoria Crescent was closed temporarily to traffic after the incident, but has since reopened.
“However, motorists are urged to avoid the area and find an alternate route,” the police said.
– Files from Jessica Durling
robert.barron@nanaimobulletin.com