Teen arrested after head-on crash kills 2 on Vancouver Island

A 16-year-old girl from Nanaimo has been arrested following a head-on collision on Highway 19 that killed two men early Thursday morning. The crash occurred just after 3 a.m. on August 27, 2026, in the southbound lanes of the highway near Ware Road in Lantzville, Vancouver Island.

According to BC Highway Patrol, a blue Kia Sedona minivan and a grey Volkswagen Jetta collided head-on. The two male occupants of the Volkswagen died at the scene. Their ages and relationship have not been released. The driver of the minivan, identified as a 16-year-old girl from Nanaimo, was arrested at the scene. She was taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.

The teen faces charges of impaired operation causing death and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. Investigators state that multiple witnesses have reported the minivan was traveling north in the southbound lanes at the time of the collision. "We need to speak to more witnesses and gather more video to confirm the exact sequence of events," said Sgt. Michael McLaughlin with BC Highway Patrol.

Police are seeking additional information about the minivan's movements prior to the crash. The vehicle was...