Family and friends have identified the 19-year-old who died in a crash on Highway 4 near Cameron Lake over the weekend as Nick Antoine.
The crash occured around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 27th, when an eastbound Honda Civic lost control on a series of curves and collided with a westbound Chevy Impala.
Sadly, police said the Civic became engulfed in flames and Nick, the driver, died at the scene.
The driver of the Impala, a 70-year-old man from Alberta, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. His current condition has not been confirmed.
Police believe speed and road conditions may have played a role in the crash, though the investigation is still in its early stages.
Nick’s mother, Nancy Antoine, describes her son as kind-hearted, driven, and deeply loved by friends and family.
“Nick was an amazing kid who died chasing his dream to become a big musician,” she told Victoria Buzz.
“He was on his way to make music in a band in Sooke, and he died with his bass guitar. He was so kind-hearted and always made sure his friends were safe. He didn’t drink or do drugs — he lived a good life I was truly proud of.”
Nancy says her family is devastated and searching for answers about the crash. She added that she wants to find and thank the person who pulled Nick from his vehicle before it was engulfed in flames.
“They gave me another opportunity to see him, and I would like to blanket them and offer my sincere gratitude,” she said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Nancy, her partner Jordan, and their young son Jasper during this time.
Funds will help with funeral and memorial costs, and give the family space to grieve.
The fundraiser describes Nancy as “one of the most caring and generous people we know,” and encourages the community to rally around her family.
As of this publication, the campaigned has raised $7,055 of its $7,500K goal.
RCMP are asking anyone who witnessed the crash or has dash-cam video from the area around the time of the collision to contact Oceanside RCMP at 250-248-6111.
“Every fatal crash is a preventable tragedy,” Staff Sergeant Travis De Coene said in a release. “With winter weather approaching, motorists are urged to slow down and drive to the conditions.”
