A hitchhiker was struck by a car and seriously injured as he walked north along the travel portion of the Malahat Saturday evening.

Just before 6 p.m., Shawnigan Lake RCMP received a report that an injured man was lying on the side of the northbound lane on the Trans-Canada Highway near the summit. Several drivers stopped to help him, said RCMP Cpl. Darren Lagan. B.C. Ambulance paramedics rushed the man to hospital where he remains with serious injuries.

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“Due to the significance of the man’s injuries, police have been unable to interview him,” said Lagan.

The RCMP South Island Traffic Services are leading the investigation with the assistance of the Shawnigan Lake RCMP.

“Based on the significant injuries this man sustained, our investigators are confident that he was struck by a passing vehicle,” said Lagan. “We are appealing to anyone who saw this collision, and directly to the driver involved, to contact us immediately.”

A short time before the man was seen lying injured on the road, a driver called 911 to report a male wearing dark clothes, hitchhiking in the travel portion of the northbound lanes near Okotoks Road. The caller said he felt the man was at risk of being struck by passing cars. An officer was on his way to the scene when a number of calls about the injured man began to come in, said Lagan.

The man has been identified as a 32-year-old Ladysmith resident. His identity will not be released, said Lagan.

The Malahat was closed in both directions for about 45 minutes. Police then opened a single lane, alternating traffic for about three hours.

Anyone with information on this collision is urged to call RCMP South Island Traffic Services at 250-416-0352.

ldickson@timescolonist.com